Learn about webinars, training opportunities and local events related to NRCS programs and services. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Name: Kittitas Reclamation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $1,800,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 57,397Funding Timeline: 2nd of 5 yearsProposed New Contracts: 8Proposed New Contract Acres: 900Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, SWEPComplemented Project Type: Canal lining. With additional NRCS assistance, agricultural producers, including Hawaiian cultural practitioners and native Kohala families, will be able to restore riparian buffers and increase tree cover in pastures, range land, and associated agricultural land. In addition to the water savings and drought resiliency benefits, EQIP funds will help improve energy use efficiency and crop productivity and health. Click here to join the webinar. Find contact information for your state office location and employees. TCID delivers water to approximately 57,000 acres of irrigated land in the Lahontan Valley. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 1, and Santa Cruz Irrigation District #15 to carry out 18 water conservation projects funded by Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG). Through our efforts, we have secured funding to increase canal capacity and make critical repairs for the following projects in the San Joaquin Valley: $22.2 million for the Friant-Kern Canalto correct capacity constraints due to subsidence in Belmont Reach and below Orange Cove. Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife. Read More, The Bureau of Reclamation is investing $1.2 million in eight external applied science projects that will develop tools and information to support water management. Read More. Name: Navajo Ag Products IndustryAvailable EQIP Funding for FY23: $500,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 1,500Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 3Proposed New Contracts: 1Proposed New Contract Acres: 1,500Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2019Complemented Project Type: Water Flow Automation Project. In addition to the water savings and drought resilience benefits, EQIP funding will help them reduce nutrient loss and groundwater pollution and improve use efficiency of equipment and facilities saving energy and reducing production costs. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. We also discussed program requirements and how projects can become eligible to compete under future funding opportunities for the planning, design, and construction of projects under the Title XVI Program, the Desalination Construction Program, and the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program. Read the latest conservation success stories that show how NRCS and farmers and ranchers work together to improve agricultural operations while helping the environment. WaterSMART's Cooperative Watershed Management Program brings diverse stakeholders together to develop local solutions for their water management needs. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), combines funding for multiple agency-wide programs promoting water conservation into a single programthe WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage American Resources for Tomorrow) program. $ 0. January 24, 2023 The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on February 6, 2023 to discuss eligible applicants and project types, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for the Environmental Water Resources Projects funding opportunity and the new Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Program. You may complete this form until receive WaterSMART program notification away the Bureau of Complaints. NRCS programs are administered following the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws. Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations. The report is available on Reclamation's Basin Study website. $82 millionfor theLos Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Phase II projectto efficiently integrate approximately 115,000 acre-feet of additional storage through new conveyance facilities with existing facilities to allow Delta water supplies to be safely diverted, stored, and delivered to beneficiaries. Application: Available on an annual basis. In addition to the water savings and drought resilience benefits, EQIP funding will help them reduce nutrient loss and groundwater pollution and improve use efficiency of equipment and facilities saving energy and reducing production costs. The improvements enable better management of 29,360 acre-feet of water annually allowing for increased delivery of storm and floodwaters to storage basins for ground water recharge and restoration of Valley Oak riparian forest habitat that is home to several endangered species. On January 24, 2023, the Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects (EWRP). The project is expected to take 17 months at a cost a total of $5,8380, 454.94 of which Arlington will contribute $3,840,454.94. The Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District in Republic and Jewel counties, KS used Reclamation WaterSMART funds to replace 4 miles of open canal with 3.3 miles of buried pipe to reduce losses to seepage, spills, and evaporation. WEEG = Water and Energy Efficiency Grants The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill. Open in a new window. Application: Available on an annual basis. The Whitestone Reclamation District (WRD) in Okanogan county, WA used two Reclamation WaterSMART grants to reduce water loss from seepage and evaporation by lining canals or replacing them with pipe which further allowed increased efficiency from pressurizing the system. The improvements are expected to save 5,700 acre-feet of stormwater annually from flowing unused to the ocean, reduce groundwater withdrawals and pumping costs, and supply water during prolonged drought or to other users in the district. Our State Offices Directory provides contact information for NRCS State Office Representatives. The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District in Churchill county, NV used Reclamation WaterSMART funds to automate six check structures within the V-Line Canal to enable level and flow control for more efficient water conveyance and increased public safety. If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility or the evaluation criteria, click here and select Drought Resiliency Projects Inquiry to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinators. Name: Tulare Irrigation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $500,000Priority Area Extent in acres: 77,000Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 8Proposed New Contract Acres: 400Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, Title XVIComplemented Project Type: Water Storage, New Pipe. Flexible pipe 3. Read More Or, sign up to receive drought alerts when the U.S. Drought Monitor or U.S. Drought Outlook updates for your city/zip code. On January 24, 2023, the Bureau of Reclamation published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects (EWRP). A multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, state, and local scales. With the additional funding, more farmers will be able to improve their irrigation systems and reduce depletion of surface water. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we secured, B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project. Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation. Name: Pixley Irrigation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $500,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 60,000Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 8Proposed New Contract Acres: 400Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2012 & 2017Complemented Project Type: Canal Replacement, Automation. The improvements are expected to save 724 acre-feet of water annually reducing groundwater withdrawals and protecting base flows in the Republican River basin. Millions of gallons of wastewater per day (mgd) treated and reclaimed. WaterSMART Program Data Portal to organize program activities, BIL-WaterSMART aspects, WaterSMART Funding Opportunities, Dashboard for projects since 2021, and other tools. Addressing Drought Portal,an interactive platform that highlights Reclamations efforts and investments to mitigate drought impacts, increase drought resiliency, reduce reliance on declining water sources, and increase the efficiency of water deliveries. With additional NRCS assistance, crop and livestock farmers will be able to improve irrigation water management systems by converting flood irrigation to sprinklers, installing new pumps, flow meters, replacing dirt ditches with buried pipe, and other surface and subsurface irrigation components. This improvement is expected to save 13,700 acre-feet of water from being withdrawn from the Lower Rio Grande River. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS With additional NRCS assistance, agricultural producers, including historically underserved farmers, will be able to pipe over 6,900 linear feet of on-farm laterals, sub laterals, and open ditches saving an additional 2,400 acre-feet of water each year. Every state has an NRCS State Technical Committee. Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses. Applications under the WEEG funding opportunity are due on July 28, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. MDT. The Bureau of Reclamation will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10:00 am MDT, to discuss information about WaterSMART Basin Studies, including eligible applicants, program requirements, and the selection process. Click here to watch a recording of the webinar. You may complete this form to receive WaterSMART program notification from the Bureau of Reclamation. The Guadalupe Soil and Water Conservation District in Guadalupe county, NM used Reclamation WaterSMART funds to improve at least three historic community earthen canal systems known as "acequias," replace open dirt ditches with pipes to control water losses from seepage and evaporation, decrease contamination from silt and trash, and reduce maintenance costs. The Newlands Project is one of the first Reclamation projects in the country, with construction beginning in 1903. An estimated 18,733 acre-feet/year of conserved water will remain in the Snake River channel, benefitting up and downstream users as well as sustaining critical habitat for the endangered salmonid fish species in the Snake and Columbia river basins. CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY Name: Ivanhoe Irrigation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $500,000Priority Area Extent in acres: 11,000Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 7Proposed Contract Acres: 280Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2011Complemented Project Type: Water Flow Automation. Our natural resource conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters. The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a funding opportunity for the fiscal year 2023 WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to allocate Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and fiscal year 2023 appropriations. The improvements are expected to reduce irrigation applications on average by 15 percent. DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $350,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 6,225Funding Timeline:Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 10Proposed New Contract Acres: 200Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: SWEP, 2017Complemented Project Type: Acequia Restoration Project. Conserved water will be used to improve water delivery reliability for irrigators in the area and will also reduce groundwater withdrawals. Click here to view a recording of the webinar. In addition to water conservation and drought resilience benefits, EQIP funding is expected to reduce nutrient loss and groundwater pollution and improve crop health and productivity. To do this, youll need to bring: If you dont have a farm tract number, you can get one from USDAs Farm Service Agency. Read More, The Bureau of Reclamation hosted a webinar on August 27, 2021 to discuss eligible applicants and project types, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for three recently announced Funding Opportunities: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG), Drought Resiliency Projects (DRP), and Environmental Water Resources Projects (EWRP). Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation. The Bureau of Reclamation is making approximately $80 million from President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available for water conservation, water management and restoration projects that will result in significant benefits to ecosystem or watershed health. In limited cases, a cost-share reduction or waiver may be granted. HCID#l is proposing to line a section of their Main Canal with geomembrane and concrete, which will help meet the irrigation demand in Hidalgo County. Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but theyre considered for funding in different ranking periods. The watershed is home to the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and numerous other endangered and species of special significance. In addition to the water saving and drought resilience benefits, the EQIP funding will also help them improve soil health and the amount and quality of crops produced. The Blue River is the only free-flowing river in Oklahoma receiving water from four aquifers, supports public fishing and recreation in the Blue River Wildlife Management Area, and is the primary drinking water source for the city of Durant. Name: Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District West CanalAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $1,800,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 146,500Funding Timeline: 1st of 5 yearsProposed New Contracts: 10Proposed Contract Acres: 900Reclamation WaterSMART Program Categories: WEEG (2019, 2020), SWEP (2019)Complemented Project Type: Canal lining, piping, automation. The funding opportunity supports water conservation, water management, and restoration projects that result in significant benefit to the ecosystem or watershed health. The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a funding opportunity for WaterSMART: Drought Resiliency Projects. EQIP funds have been targeted to the area since FY19 and will continue to be used to help farmers improve irrigation water use efficiency, crop health and productivity. Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nations lands. Link to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's homepage, Browse by Regional Drought Early Warning System (DEWS), Advancing Drought Early Warning through Interdisciplinary Research, National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, NIDIS Drought and Wildland Fire Nexus (NDAWN), National Weather Service Drought Information Statements. Well discuss your vision for your land. Offers assistance to communities to address watershed resource concerns. To build on these efforts, we secured $25 million to pursue theB.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project, which will develop approximately 130,000 acre-feet of additional water storage. The study indicates the demand for water in the area will increase over time,and without new supplies, imbalances between renewable supply and demand will also grow. The bureau is the largest wholesale water supplier and manager in the United States, managing 487 dams and 338 reservoirs. WaterSMART Grant . Name: Upper Republican NRDAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $250,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 35,155Funding Timeline: Year 2 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 8Proposed Contract Acres: 6,000Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2018Complemented Project Type: Remote Water Metering. Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers. In addition, $42.53 million was awarded through the Infrastructure Law to refurbish the San Luis Unit 8 motor generator, turbine, and butterfly valve as part of the Gianelli Power Plant a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant that is at the base of B.F. Sisk Dam. The Blue River Foundation of Oklahoma in Johnston county, OK used Reclamation WaterSMART funds to carry out the Blue River Watershed restoration planning activities including the identification of priority areas and development of conservation plans suitable for voluntary implementation by landowners. With the additional NRCS assistance, farmers in the area will be able to improve soil moisture, use irrigation water more efficiently, and monitor water diversions from the Pecos River potentially saving 340 acre-feet per season. Welcome to the NRCS newsroom! Between 2016 and 2020, NRCS and Reclamation coordinated to fund complementary investments in 10 different states. With additional NRCS assistance, water management entities will be able to convert high priority smaller laterals and sub laterals within the 330 miles of conveyance system to pipelines saving an additional 1,204 acre/feet of water/year and farmers and ranchers will be able to convert from rill irrigation to sprinkler systems conserving another 1,230 acre/feet of water/year and improving drought resiliency for the community. Name: Delano-Earlimart Irrigation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $500,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 56,500Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 8Proposed New Contract Acres: 400Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2010Complemented Project Type: Groundwater Banking. The funding opportunity is available on grants.gov (opportunity number R23AS00005). The improvements facilitate groundwater recharge of up to 11,520 acre-feet of water resulting in an expected 4,300 acre-feet of water savings annually for grape and tree fruit growers to use during droughts or share with other water users in the area during normal rains. Bureau of Reclamation announced today that Reclamation will use $4.6 million to partner with water managers to conduct comprehensive water studies. Name: Blue River WatershedAvailable EQIP Funding FY23: $225,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 411,650Funding Timeline: 2nd of 5 yearsProposed New Contracts: 10Proposed New Contract Acres: 5,000Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Category: CWMP, 2019Complemented Project Type: Watershed Restoration. $460,891for thePorterville Irrigation Districtto pursue the Northwest Service Area Conjunctive Use Groundwater Recharge project. In addition to the water saving and drought resilience benefits, EQIP funding is also expected to reduce nutrients transported to surface and groundwater through improved nutrient management, improve crop productivity and health, and reduce annual maintenance and repair costs. Name: Kaweah Delta Water Conservation DistrictAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $2,200,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 340,000Funding Timeline: Year 3 of 5Proposed New Contracts: 35Proposed New Contract Acres: 1200Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Categories: WEEG, 2012Complemented Project Type: Water Flow Automation. In addition to the water savings and drought resilience benefits, EQIP funding will help them reduce nutrient loss and groundwater pollution and improve use efficiency of equipment and facilities saving energy and reducing production costs. Additionally, flowmeters and well water sensors were installed to better control groundwater pumping which is expected to save an additional 818 acre-feet from being withdrawn. NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority. The site is secure. An official website of the United States government. This planning project is evaluating the impact of watershed conservation efforts in the Kohala Mountain watersheds for protection of the water resource, recharge benefits, effective control of invasive species, and protection of unique biological communities and rare species in a unique ecosystem that hosts over 155 native species. With the additional NRCS assistance, farmers in the area will be able to increase water use efficiency and reduce water loss due to seepage and evaporation. Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS. Official websites use .gov Read More, The Bureau of Reclamation released the Missouri River Headwaters Basin Study that provides options to meet the increased water demand and a change in the timing of the snowmelt runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Fort Peck Reservoir. One Bureau of Reclamation choice 22 projects to share $17.3 million in WaterSMART Water both Energy Efficiency Grants. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The Kittitas Reclamation District in Kittitas county, WA used five Reclamation WaterSMART grants to seal sections of concrete lined canals, line earthen sections with geomembrane and concrete, or replace earthen sections with steel reinforced polyethylene and other types of pipes. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. NRCS delivers science-based soil information to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land managers effectively manage, conserve, and appraise their most valuable investment the soil. The Bureau of Reclamation selected 22 projects to share $17.3 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. EQIP-WSI activities are planned for each targeted priority area based on how well they complement the activities of a specific Reclamation funded project. Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Name: St. John East Lateral AreaAvailable EQIP Funding in FY23: $175,000Priority Area Extent in Acres: 550Funding Timeline: Year 2 of 2Proposed New Contracts: 11Proposed New Contract Acres: 550Reclamation WaterSMART Funding Category: WEEG, 2015Complemented Project Type: Canal piping.