News Release Archive

Reclamation awards $505,359 in Water Conservation Field Services Program grants

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix, (702) 293-8391, dhendrix@usbr.gov
Tina Mullis, tmullis@usbr.gov

For Release: August 19, 2019

BOULDER CITY – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today the recipients of $505,359 in cost-share grant funding to support water conservation project activities in Arizona and California. The funding, provided through the WaterSMART Water Conservation Field Services Program, is targeted for use by local water-use organizations for water conservation planning, demonstration activities, system optimization reviews and assessments, and design of more efficient water conservation and infrastructure projects.

"Improving water efficiency projects at the local level is an important part of ensuring communities have a reliable water supply now and into the future," said Tina Mullis, Management and Program Analyst, with the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Region. “Through our WaterSMART program, Reclamation leverages federal and non-federal funding sources to assist states, tribes, and local entities as they plan, design and implement conservation actions. These actions increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and bring increased attention to local water use needs.”

Reclamation established the WCFSP in 1996 to encourage agricultural and urban water district recipients in preparing and implementing water conservation plans and projects in accordance with the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982.

Through the WCFSP, each of Reclamation’s five regional offices is able to provide annual financial assistance to local water users to develop more efficient water conservation projects and plans, identification of water management improvements through System Optimization Reviews, and improving the understanding of water conservation techniques through demonstration activities. This year’s cost-share funding will be leveraged with local funding sources to accomplish more than $1.2 million in water conservation planning activities.

For further information on the WCFSP Program and about the selected projects, please see our website at: www.usbr.gov/lc/docs/FY19WSGrant.pdf

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.