Colorado Watershed Restoration Grants
The Colorado Watershed Restoration Grants support scientific and technical projects to restore and protect Colorado watersheds from hazards like wildfire, flooding, and erosion.
Funder: Colorado Water Conservation Board
Due Dates: February 13, 2026 (opens) | Rolling thereafter until funds are obligated
Funding Amounts: No fixed maximum; typical awards range from ~$35,000 (studies) to $494,000+ (construction); 25%–50% match required depending on project type
Summary: Supports planning, engineering, implementation, and emergency response projects to protect and restore Colorado watersheds, especially from post-wildfire hazards.
Key Information: Applications accepted until funds are exhausted; match requirements and eligibility vary by project type.
Description
The Colorado Watershed Restoration Grants, administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), provide funding to support projects that enhance the resilience and recovery of Colorado’s watersheds. The program focuses on capacity building, planning, engineering, implementation, and post-wildfire emergency response to address hazards such as debris flows, flooding, erosion, and channel migration. Eligible activities include developing Wildfire Ready Action Plans, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, hazard mapping, sediment and risk assessments, project design, stream and floodplain restoration, erosion control, revegetation, and more.
Projects must demonstrate collaborative approaches with diverse local and regional interests, address urgent watershed needs, and be technically and financially feasible. The program is part of the state’s broader Wildfire Ready Watersheds initiative.
