Water 2025
Water for America:
In the future, Challenge Grants and System Optimization Reviews will be part of the Department of the Interior’s Water for America initiative, focused on addressing 21st century water challenges and securing water resources for future generations.
The Bureau of Reclamation will focus its efforts on two of the three strategies of Water for America--"Plan for our Nation's Water Future" and "Expand, Protect, and Conserve our Nation's Water Resources". The U.S. Geological Survey, another Interior agency, will work on the third strategy to "Enhance our Nation's Water Knowledge".
Through these three strategies, the Water for America Initiative will provide the vision and leadership necessary to improve sustainable western water supplies for the 21st century. For more information, visit the Water For America website at: http://www.usbr.gov/wfa/.
Challenge Grants
Since 2004, 137 Challenge Grant projects have been funded. $30 million in Federal funding combined with local partnerships into almost $130 million worth of water management improvements in 16 western states. Those 137 projects will create new water banks, promote the use of advanced technology to improve water management, and increase collaboration among Federal, State, tribal, and local entities.
Current Opportunities:
See grants.gov for information.
A funding opportunity announcement is expected under Water for America Oct. 17, 2009.
Projects Funded 2004 - 2008 (PDF - 91 KB)
System Optimization Reviews
System Optimization Reviews, new in 2008, received 33 applications and the selection process has been completed. On May 27, 2008, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced $1.9 million in grants to water districts for twelve projects to improve delivery systems in California, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah. Including matching contributions of non-federal partners, the selected projects represent a combined investment of more than $3.8 million.
Current Opportunities:
See grants.gov for information. A funding opportunity announcement is expected under Water for America Oct. 31, 2009.
System Optimization Review Projects Funded in 2008 (PDF - 14 KB)
Library: Water 2025 - August 2005 Report.pdf (File size - 14 MB)
Lasted updated: 10/17/08