WaterSMART

Drought Response Program

The Bureau of Reclamation's Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing assistance to water managers to: develop and update comprehensive drought plans, and implement projects that will build long-term resiliency to drought.

Program areas include:

• Contingency Planning
• Resiliency Projects
• Emergency Response Actions

Documents

• Drought Response Program Fact Sheet
• Drought Response Program Framework
• Drought Resiliency Projects vs. Small Storage Program

Announcements

• Biden-Harris Administration announces over $12 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for water sustainability projects

  The Bureau of Reclamation today announced nearly $12.1 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support collaborative planning and design projects to improve water sustainability and efficiency. Reclamation selected a total of 43 projects in 11 states to receive the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations through Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Drought Resiliency Funding Opportunity Webinar

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on August 15, 2024 to discuss the FY25 Drought Resiliency Projects funding opportunity. Click here to watch a recording of the live event.

  On July 24, 2024, The Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Drought Response Program’s Drought Resiliency Projects (DRP). This funding opportunity supports the implementation of drought mitigation projects that will build long-term resilience to drought. Through this funding opportunity, Reclamation provides financial assistance for projects that, when implemented, will increase water supply reliability and improve water management.

  If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility or the evaluation criteria, click here and select Inquiry: Drought Resiliency Projects to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinator. 

  Download Slideshow

• Biden-Harris Administration Delivers $147 Million from Investing in America Agenda for Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Reliability Across the West

  The Department of the Interior today announced a $147.6 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help communities prepare and respond to water reliability challenges due to drought and other water scarcity concerns. The funding will support 42 projects in ten states. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• FY24 Planning and Project Design Grants, and FY24 Drought Resiliency Projects Webinar

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted an informational webinar on Thursday, August 24th, ato discuss eligible applicants and project types, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for both the Planning and Project Design Grants funding opportunity and the Drought Resliency Prjects funding opportunity.

  Click here to watch a recording of the live event.

  Download Slideshow

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Biden-Harris Administration Makes Nearly $200 Million Available for Drought and Climate Resiliency Projects as Part of Investing in America Agenda

The Department of the Interior today announced up to $195 million in funding opportunities available through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to develop a more resilient water supply, support cooperative watershed management and safeguard aquatic ecosystems. The funds come primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s WaterSMART program, as well as from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations. Read More →

• Biden-Harris Administration Invests More Than $84 million in 36 Drought Resiliency Projects

  The Department of the Interior today announced a $84.7 million investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help 36 communities throughout the West prepare and respond to the challenges of drought. The selected projects will help bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through investments in innovative drought resilience efforts, such as groundwater storage, rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, water reuse, ion exchange treatment, and other methods to stretch existing water supplies. Read More →

  Project Descriptions

• Reclamation approves $865,480 to five western states for drought contingency planning grants to improve long-term drought resiliency

  As the western United States faces unprecedented severe drought conditions, the Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the award of six drought planning activities for 2022 WaterSMART: Drought Contingency Planning grants. This program provides federal cost-share funds for entities to develop and update comprehensive drought plans, employing a proactive approach to build long-term resiliency to drought. Read More →

  Project Descriptions