At a glance
The WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects program funds on-the-ground water resource projects such as water conservation and efficiency, water infrastructure improvements, river and watershed restoration, monitoring, outreach, and invasive species treatment. Eligible applicants include states, Tribes, irrigation and water districts, certain water or power authorities, nonprofit conservation organizations working with a Category A partner, and watershed groups; federal agencies, individuals, and institutions of higher education are not eligible. Category A and B applicants may request up to $3 million in federal funds per project for work completed within 3 years, and watershed groups may also request up to $3 million with no more than $1 million per year. A 25 percent non-federal cost share is generally required, but this does not apply to American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands. Category A applicants must be in the Western United States or specified territories, while Category B and C applicants must be in the United States or those territories; watershed groups can apply for 50 percent federal funding without a Category A partner and for
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
The objective of the WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects funding opportunity is to invite eligible entities to apply for funding to implement projects per the authorizing language referenced above that benefit water resource management for multiple uses, including water conservation and efficiency projects, water infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration. Projects that balance numerous community interests (agriculture, recreation, fisheries, power, etc.), were developed collaboratively, and provide significant watershed benefits will be prioritized under this funding opportunity. This program demonstrably advances Trump administration priorities, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14154 (January 20, 2025): Unleashing American Energy (E.O. 14154) and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with other priorities and requirements, such as those identified in Presidential Executive Order 14332 (August 7, 2025): Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking (E.O. 14332).
Who can apply
- Others
“specifically: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.” — From the announcement