Expand, Protect and Conserve
This component includes the Water for America Challenge Grant Program, the Water Conservation Field Services Program and the Acceleration of Critical ESA Compliance. The Acceleration of Critical ESA Compliance component is described in more detail below and is distinct from the Challenge Grant and Water Conservation Field Services Program because of its exclusive focus on ESA compliance. The Challenge Grant and Water Conservation Field Services Program, on the other hand, contain similarities that complement one another but also contain important differences. Through the Challenge Grant Program, Reclamation generally provides up to $300,000 in Federal funding per project, for projects that will improve water efficiency, demonstrate advanced water treatment technologies, and help to avoid the decline of candidate species. Challenge Grant funding is allocated through a west-wide competitive process that prioritizes projects that will address the most critical issues from a west-wide perspective. The Water Conservation Field Services Program, by contrast, provides smaller amounts of funding ($100,000 per project maximum) through local competitions within a region or area. The projects funded are generally smaller in scope than the Challenge Grant projects, and are focused on fundamental conservation improvements as identified in water conservation plans developed by water users.
Last Updated: 7/2/08