Small Storage Program

The Bureau of Reclamation’s Small Storage Program was authorized by sections 40901(1) and 40903 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to promote Federal assistance to enhance water storage opportunities for future generations in support of the Department of the Interior's priorities.

In accordance with the IIJA, as amended by P.L. 117-328, projects must have a water storage capacity of not less than 200 acre-feet and not more than 30,000 acre-feet.

A third funding opportunity opened on September 4, 2024 and was paused in February 2025. Please see Current Status for more information. Once reposted, through this funding opportunity, Reclamation will continue to provide financial assistance for projects that, when implemented, will increase water supply reliability, improve operational flexibility, and enhance resiliency of water and related infrastructure throughout the 17 western states, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Small Storage Program Eligibility Overview

To be eligible for the funding opportunity, project proponents must first submit a feasibility study which meets the requirements of Temporary Reclamation Manual Release CMP TRMR-127, Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Review Process. Reclamation will accept feasibility study submissions at any time from eligible non-Federal entities, allowing up to 180 days for review and 60 days to issue findings (Feasibility Study Process Map). Reclamation must find the feasibility study meets the requirements of CMP TRMR-127 by the date specified in the funding opportunity. Project proponents may then submit an application for the funding opportunity.

Documents

• Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Study Review Process Guidance
• Feasibility Study Process Map
• Agency Specific Procedures for Implementing the Council on Environmental Quality's Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines for Water and Land-Related Resources Implementation Studies (Department of the Interior 707 DM 1)
• Small Storage Program Fact Sheet
• Drought Resiliency Projects vs. Small Storage Program

Contact

For more information regarding the Small Storage Program, please contact the Small Storage Program Team at bor-sha-smallstorage@usbr.gov.

Join the Small Storage Program Mailing List

You may complete this form to receive notifications about the Small Storage Program from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Announcements

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• Fiscal Year 2024 Webinar: Small Storage Program Update

  The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on April 24, 2024, to provide a status update on the Small Storage Program. Reclamation discussed program requirements and how projects can become eligible to compete under future funding opportunities for the planning, design, and construction of projects. A recording of the webinar can be viewed below.

  Download PowerPoint Slides.

  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized the Small Storage Program which provides funding for surface and groundwater storage projects between 200 and 30,000 acre-feet. Projects must also increase the storage or move water to or from the storage project. 

  The program is available for non-federal water storage projects in Alaska, Hawaii or one of the other 17 Western States. Federal funding is available for up to 25-percent of eligible project costs. No more than $30 million is available per project.

  To be eligible to receive a grant from this program, project sponsors must submit a feasibility study to Reclamation for review and approval that follows Reclamation’s published feasibility standards.

  The fiscal year 2025 funding opportunity for this program will be published later this year.