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- Cooperative Watershed Management Program Seeking Applicants to Establish or Expand Watershed Groups through WaterSMART
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Cooperative Watershed Management Program Seeking Applicants to Establish or Expand Watershed Groups through WaterSMART
Media Contact:
Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov
For Release: May 01, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bureau of Reclamation announced it is seeking applications for its Cooperative Watershed Management Program to assist with the establishment or expansion of watershed management groups. The Cooperative Watershed Management Program provides funding for watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local groups to address their water management needs and is part of the WaterSMART initiative.
An entity is limited to $50,000 but may be awarded an additional $50,000 for another year if sufficient progress is demonstrated. No cost-share is required.
Applicants are eligible under two categories through this funding opportunity. The first category is for the establishment of a watershed group. Eligible applicants are states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the western United States or United States Territories. The second category is for the expansion of a watershed group. Eligible applicants must be a current watershed group or a participant in an existing watershed group that is legally incorporated within the state in which they operate and meets the definition of a watershed group as defined in the funding opportunity.
The Cooperative Watershed Management Program also supports the Blueways System at the Department of the Interior. The National Blueways System highlights and supports river and watershed strategies for sustainable watershed resources that are led by stakeholder communities and organizations.
In 2012, Reclamation selected eight entities to receive $333,500 in grants under the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program.
The WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) effort was launched in February 2010 to facilitate the work of Interior's bureaus in pursuing a sustainable water supply for the nation. The program establishes a framework to provide federal leadership and assistance on the efficient use of water and integrating water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all natural resources.
The funding opportunity is available at www.grants.gov by searching for funding opportunity R13AS80015. Applications are due by 4 p.m. MDT, June 11, 2013.
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