WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program 2028 Grant

DOI-BOR

About this grant

The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (Funding Opportunity R26AS00349) is a Bureau of Reclamation funding opportunity that invites eligible entities to develop local solutions to their water management needs. It provides funding for watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design. The program aims to promote water reliability and cooperation among stakeholders, reduce conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and stretch limited water supplies. The opportunity has an estimated total program funding of $25,000,000 with an award ceiling of $300,000 and a floor of $50,000, and an expected number of 100 awards. The listing states that no cost sharing or matching is required. The assistance listing is 15.554, Cooperative Watershed Management. The notice indicates the program demonstrably advances administration priorities including Executive Order 14154 and Secretarial Order 3418, and aligns with Executive Order 14332 on oversight in federal grantmaking. Applications are accepted in four rounds, with closings on October 7, 2026, February 24, 2027, September 1, 2027, and February 15, 2028, each at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time. The posting was made June 10, 2026 and archives May 15, 2028.

Eligibility

Applicants must be either an existing watershed group or a sponsor establishing a new watershed group, as defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act, located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico. New watershed group sponsors may be a state, Tribe, local or special district, local governmental entity, interstate organization, non-profit organization, or institute of higher education, and must be sponsoring development of a new group that can significantly affect or be affected by water quality or quantity in the watershed and can promote sustainable water use. Existing watershed groups must meet the statutory definition, be located in an eligible state or territory, and be legally incorporated as a non-profit organization; a member or fiscal agent that is a state, Tribe, local or special district, local government entity, interstate organization, or non-profit may apply on their behalf. Groups that have previously received CWMP funding should apply as existing groups and explain how the new project builds on past Phase I work. Federal government entities and individuals are ineligible.

How it's scored

New and existing watershed group applications are scored against the same evaluation criteria, described in Section E.1 of the full announcement, but are ranked separately to ensure fairness. Reclamation may reassign an applicant's category during merit review if appropriate. Specific scoring weights and panel composition are not stated on the page.

Key requirements

• ✓Applications accepted in four rounds with closings on October 7, 2026, February 24, 2027, September 1, 2027, and February 15, 2028 at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time
• ✓Award range of $50,000 floor to $300,000 ceiling with no cost share or matching required
• ✓Funds watershed group development, restoration planning, and watershed management project planning and design

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does DOI-BOR offer?

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program offers $50K – $300K.

When is the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program deadline?

Applications close 15 Feb 2028 23:00.

Who can apply for WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program?

Eligibility covers organisations in US; local-authority, nonprofit, university, consortium, cooperative, indigenous-community. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Water funding covers supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment, water efficiency, catchment management and flood risk. A large share is public procurement for infrastructure and services, alongside grants for innovation and access in underserved areas. Bidders and applicants are typically assessed on technical capacity, operating experience and community impact.