Financial and Technical AssistanceWaterSMART Program
Through the WaterSMART Grants Program (formerly Challenge Grants Program) Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, Tribes, States and other entities with water or power delivery authority. The WaterSMART Grants program provides an important step towards increasing water conservation by leveraging water sustainability grants to improve water use efficiency in the West. Projects should seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy, protect endangered species, or facilitate water markets. Projects are selected through a competitive process and the focus is on projects that can be completed within 24 months that will help provide sustainable water supplies in the western United States.
The WaterSMART Program provides a comprehensive approach to handling water resource challenges. As competition for water resources grows - for irrigation of crops, growing cities and communities, energy production, and the environment - the need for information and tools to aid water resource managers also grows. Reclamation believes that water conservation, the use of water markets and improved water use efficiency are all crucial elements of any plan to address western water issues.
Technical Assistance includes water conservation planning, environmental review for water conservation projects, and engineering design.
The Water Conservation Field Services Program
In 1997, The Bureau of Reclamation initiated the Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) to encourage water conservation and efficient use of water supplies on federal Reclamation projects, as well as foster improved water management on a watershed basis throughout the Western states. For additional information, visit Reclamation's Water Conservation Field Services Program website, or contact your local representative, Alan Jackson.
Webmaster: Veronica Welch
Date last updated: 7/27/12 11:29 AM