Water Conservation Field Services Program
Reclamation is in the process of updating the Water Conservation Field Services Program and has issued a temporary Reclamation Manual Release. The goal of this Temporary Reclamation Manual Release (TRMR) D&S is to ensure consistency and efficiency in the process the Bureau of Reclamation uses to carry out financial assistance as part of the Water Conservation Field Services Program. This TRMR provides that financial assistance will be available under the WCFSP for water conservation planning, development of system optimization reviews, designing water management improvements, and demonstration projects.
Beginning in fiscal year 2017, on the ground projects (i.e., implementation projects) will no longer be funded through WCFSP. Instead, those on the ground projects will be funded through a new grant category under WaterSMART Grants, which will provide a new dedicated source of funding. Reclamation anticipates making at least $2 million in Federal funding available for this new grant category.
Over the next year, Reclamation will be working on a permanent Water Conservation Field Services Program Directive and Standard, which will include an opportunity for public review. In the meantime, this TRMR is being issued to ensure that some key program requirements are captured. In addition, there will be an opportunity for public comment on the draft framework for the new category for WaterSMART Grants (tentatively scheduled for August 2016). Please visit http://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/ for more information.
Contact: Josh German, 303-445-2839, jgerman@usbr.gov
