The Current
Reclamation's Biweekly Newsletter

Novemeber 20, 2018

Cooperative Watershed Management Program

WaterSMART's Cooperative Watershed Management Program is a collaborative program that encourages watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to develop local solutions for their water management needs. Funding is provided in two areas:

1. for watershed management group development, watershed restoration planning and watershed management project design
2. for cost-shared financial assistance to watershed management groups to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects

The funding provided through the Cooperative Watershed Management Program helps local stakeholders develop local solutions that will improve water reliability while reducing conflict, addressing complex water issues and stretching limited water supplies.

On October 10, 2018, the Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for watershed groups to seek funding to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects for their communities. Reclamation anticipates awarding between six and 10 projects through this funding opportunity. Each project may receive up to $300,000 in federal funding. The recipient must provide a minimum of 50-percent of the total project costs. Applications are due on January 30, 2019.

To be eligible for this funding, the applicant must be a watershed group. A watershed group is defined as a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues with the relevant watershed, is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources in the watershed, makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, including irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water suppliers, hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, private property owners, federal, state and local governments, and tribes.

Through WaterSMART, Reclamation works cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply through investments to modernize existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Visit https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart for additional information about the program.

Prize Competition

The Lewiston Orchards Project is located near Lewiston, Idaho and provides irrigation water to approximately 18,000 patrons within the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District service area. Local, Tribal, and Federal partners are working together to address impacts to Endangered Species Act (ESA)-threatened steelhead and Tribal cultural and natural resources as well as additional challenges related to water supply reliability. For more info: www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/lop/index.html.