WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
This grant funds local groups to plan and design projects that improve water management, encourage collaboration, and address watershed needs.
Funder: Bureau of Reclamation
Due Dates: October 7, 2026 | February 24, 2027 | September 1, 2027 | February 15, 2028
Funding Amounts: Up to $300,000 total per award over three years (max $100,000/year); $25 million total program funding; expected 100 awards
Summary: Supports watershed groups in eligible Western states and territories to develop, plan, and design collaborative watershed management and restoration solutions.
Description
This program provides funding to eligible entities to develop, plan, and design collaborative watershed management solutions addressing local water management needs. The initiative aims to promote water reliability, reduce conflict among water users, and foster cooperation by supporting the formation and capacity-building of watershed groups, development of restoration plans, and design of watershed management projects in the Western U.S. and select territories. Activities may include stakeholder outreach, watershed group development, restoration planning, and technical project design to address critical watershed issues such as water quality, quantity, ecological resiliency, and resource conflicts.
