WaterSMART

Previous Grant Selections

Reclamation has awarded Water and Energy Efficiency Grants since 2010. In 2009, they were called the Water Marketing and Energy Efficiency Grants and, prior to that, Challenge Grants. You may review the previously selected projects below.

2024 - First Round

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers $105 Million from Investing in America Agenda for Water Conservation and Efficiency Projects (August 5, 2024) - The Department of the Interior today announced a nearly $105 million investment as part of the President’s Investing in America agenda for 67 water conservation and efficiency projects that will enhance drought resilience across the nation. The investment comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations. Read More →

2023

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $140 Million for Water Conservation and Efficiency Projects in the West (April 21, 2023) - The Department of the Interior today announced a $140 million investment for water conservation and efficiency projects as part of the President’s Investing in America agenda to enhance the resilience of the West to drought and climate change. Funding for 84 projects in 15 western states, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations, will go to irrigation and water districts, states, Tribes and other entities and are expected to conserve over 230,000 acre-feet of water when completed. This is equivalent to 77 billion gallons of water, enough water for more than 940,000 people.  Read More →

2022

Reclamation selects 22 projects to receive $17.3 million to improve water efficiency in West (May 16, 2021) - The Bureau of Reclamation selected 22 projects to share $17.3 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. These competitive projects improve water use efficiency, increase renewable energy production, reduce the risk of water conflicts, and provide other benefits that will enhance water supply sustainability in the Western United States. Read More →

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Provide $25.5 Million for Water Efficiency Projects in Eight Western States (May 16, 2021) - The Department of the Interior today announced $25.5 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to safeguard local water supplies in the face of severe western drought. Read More →

2021

Projects throughout the Western United States receive $42.4 million in grants from Reclamation to conserve and use water more efficiently (Mar 17, 2021) - The Bureau of Reclamation is awarding $42.4 million in grants to 55 projects throughout 13 states. These projects will improve the water reliability for these communities by using water more efficiently and power efficiency improvements that water supply reliability and generate more hydropower. The projects are anticipated to conserve more than 98,000 acre-feet of water per year. Read More →

2020

Reclamation provides $40.99 million in grants to improve water efficiency (February 21, 2020) - The Bureau of Reclamation has selected 54 projects to share $40.99 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to help projects use water more efficiently and effectively in the western United States. Read More →

2019

Reclamation announces $29.1 million in WaterSMARhttps://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/730?field_story_archive=WaterSMART&topic=WaterSMARTT grants to use water more efficiently (July 1, 2019) - The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation announced that 13 states will utilize $29.1 million in grants from the WaterSMART Program to help communities conserve water. Read More →

2018

Bureau of Reclamation selects 54 projects to receive $26.5 million to improve water efficiency in the West (October 2, 2018) - Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman announced that Reclamation has selected 54 projects to receive a total of $26.5 million through WaterSMART water and energy efficiency grants. This funding will be leveraged to accomplish approximately $167 million in improvements throughout the West. The projects funded with these grants include canal lining and piping, automated gates and control systems, and installation of advanced metering. Read More →

2017

Bureau of Reclamation Announces Nearly $21 Million to 43 Projects for Water Delivery Improvements Across Western United States (August 29, 2017) - Acting Commissioner Alan Mikkelsen announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has selected $20.9 million for 43 projects to water delivery efficiency improvements in the Western United States. When leveraged with non-Federal funding sources these projects will complete more than $101 million in improvements. The selected projects will include canal lining and piping to reduce seepage losses, automated gates and control systems, and installation of advanced metering. Read More →

2016

Interior, USDA Announce More Than $47 Million in Investments for Water Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Drought Response & Agriculture Operations Across the West (June 23, 2016) - The U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture today announced more than $47 million in investments to help water districts and producers on private working lands better conserve water resources. The funds include $15 million in USDA funds and $32.6 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for local projects to improve water and energy efficiency and provide a strengthened federal response to ongoing and potential drought across 13 states in the West. Read More →

2015

Secretary Jewell Announces $50 Million to Help Conserve Water in Drought-Stricken West (May 20, 2015) - As part of the Obama Administration's continued effort to bring relief to western communities suffering from the historic drought, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced that Interior's Bureau of Reclamation will invest nearly $50 million to improve water efficiency and conservation in California and 11 other western states. Read More →

2014

Interior Announces Nearly $20 Million in WaterSMART Funding for Water and Energy Efficiency Projects and River Basin Studies at Western Governors’ Annual Meeting - (June 9, 2014) Addressing the Western Governors’ Association today, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the Bureau of Reclamation will make $17.8 million in water and energy efficiency grants available to 36 projects in the western United States and will provide $1.8 million for three river basin studies—for a total of $19.6 million in Federal funding.

2013

Interior Awards Grants in Eleven Western States to Improve Water Management, Supplies (May 22, 2013) - Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor today announced 44 projects in 11 states that will receive $20.8 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants from Reclamation. Read More →

2012

WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Project Selections Announced - (May 2, 2012) Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has selected $11 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to stretch water supplies and conserve energy in the western United States. Read More →

2011

Reclamation Selects Projects in California and Utah to Receive WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants - (Aug 29, 2011) Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor announced that two additional projects have been selected to receive a total of $1.3 million in Fiscal Year 2011 WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant funding. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California was selected to receive $1 million while Payson City Corporation in Utah will receive $300,000. Read More →

Interior Announces 54 New Projects to Receive $24 Million in WaterSMART Grants, Saving Enough Water for 400,000 People - (May 19, 2011) Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has selected 54 new projects in western states to receive a total of $24 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. Once funded and completed, these projects will save an estimated 102,221 acre-feet of water each year, or enough water for more than 400,000 people. In addition, 24 of the projects are expected to save more than 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough electricity for more than 1,300 households. Read More →

2010

Reclamation announces $12.8 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants - (July 10, 2010) Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor has announced the selection of 37 WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) Grants that will use $12.8 million in federal funding to construct projects that seek to save water, increase energy efficiency and improve environmental conditions while addressing water demands in the West. Read More →

2009

Reclamation announces $5.6 million in Challenge Grants for Water Conservation in the West - (Aug 5, 2009) Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor has announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $4.6 million in Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants and $1 million in System Optimization Review Grants. Funding for these grants was provided in the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations.

2004 - 2008