Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR DO 19 F003
The WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019 (Funding Opportunity Number BOR DO 19 F003) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, designed to help western water managers move from reactive drought response to proactive drought preparedness. The central goal is to support on-the-ground drought resiliency projects that make water supplies more reliable, improve overall water management, and reduce the environmental and economic disruption that drought can cause. The program is built around the idea that investing in mitigation and preparedness before a crisis is typically far more cost-effective than scrambling during an emergency, echoing commonly cited findings that hazard mitigation can return multiple dollars in avoided losses for every dollar spent.
This opportunity specifically targets organizations that have water delivery authority or power delivery authority and can partner with Reclamation through cost sharing. Eligible applicants include states, Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and similar entities (the announcement indicates additional eligibility clarification is provided in the full FOA). Awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements under CFDA 15.514. For FY 2019, the FOA anticipated making around 15 awards, with a maximum federal award (award ceiling) of $750,000 per project. The application window opened January 24, 2019, and the original closing date was March 27, 2019.
A defining requirement of the FOA is that proposed projects must be supported by an existing drought planning effort. In practical terms, applicants have to show that the project is not a last-minute idea created solely to chase funding, but instead is something already identified through a drought plan or similar planning document that assessed vulnerabilities and selected solutions with stakeholder input. Projects backed by an existing drought plan are prioritized because that planning foundation signals the project has been vetted, is publicly supported, and is more likely to be the right fit for addressing local drought risks. The program frames this as a deliberate shift away from crisis-driven measures toward preparedness actions that can be implemented with better coordination, clearer permitting pathways, and more predictable outcomes.
The FOA focuses on "Drought Resiliency Projects" that are generally ready to move forward. It emphasizes projects that are in or near final design and that have momentum on the non-federal side: environmental and cultural compliance should already be initiated or completed, and non-federal funding, permits, and required approvals should be secured. That readiness expectation signals Reclamation is looking to fund projects that can be executed rather than conceptual planning work. (Separate elements of the broader WaterSMART Drought Response Program also support drought contingency planning, but this particular FOA is aimed at implementation-oriented resiliency projects.)
In terms of what these projects should accomplish, the FOA highlights improvements that increase water management flexibility and make water supplies more resilient under drought conditions. That includes efforts that increase the reliability of water deliveries, modernize or optimize water management practices, and produce benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment while mitigating drought impacts. The announcement also points to priorities aligned with federal direction on strengthening water supply reliability in the West, including projects that improve forecasts of water availability and expand the use of technology to improve reliability and management effectiveness. Taken together, the program is aiming for practical, measurable upgrades that help water managers anticipate shortages earlier, manage limited supplies more efficiently, and reduce the severity of drought impacts across communities and ecosystems.
For applicants and stakeholders looking for more program context, the FOA directs readers to Reclamation's Drought Response Program page (www.usbr.gov/drought) and the broader WaterSMART program page (www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART), where related guidance, program goals, and examples of funded work are typically provided.Apply for BOR DO 19 F003
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.514.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 24, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 27, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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| HQ NWRS System Enhancements Apply for F19AS00099 Funding Number: F19AS00099 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Department of the Interior, United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service, (Region 3 Division of Migratory Birds Apply for F19AS00103 Funding Number: F19AS00103 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants Apply for BOR MP 19 F002 Funding Number: BOR MP 19 F002 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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