Opportunity Information: Apply for R26AS00349
The WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation focused on helping communities organize and plan practical, locally driven responses to water supply and water quality challenges. The program is designed to strengthen water reliability by encouraging collaboration among the people and organizations that share a watershed, with the idea that coordinated planning can reduce conflict, improve decision-making, and make limited water supplies go further. Funding under this opportunity supports three main areas: building or strengthening watershed groups, developing watershed restoration plans, and planning and designing watershed management projects (including early-stage project planning and design work that helps move concepts toward implementable projects).
A core feature of CWMP is its emphasis on cooperative, consensus-based watershed groups. Under the Cooperative Watershed Management Act definition referenced in the notice, a watershed group is meant to be grassroots and non-regulatory, focused on water availability and quality within a watershed, and capable of promoting sustainable water use. The program expects watershed groups to represent a broad mix of stakeholders who have real interests in how water is managed. Examples listed in the notice include hydroelectric producers, grazing and timber interests, land development, recreation and tourism, irrigated agriculture, environmental interests, municipal water suppliers, private property owners, and federal, state, local, and Tribal governments. The intent is to bring these parties into the same process so solutions are shaped by the full range of watershed needs rather than by a single sector.
Eligibility is tied both to the type of applicant and where the watershed group is located. Applicants must either be an existing watershed group or be sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group, and the group must be located in one of the eligible states or territories: 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. For new watershed groups, eligible sponsors include states, Tribes, local or special districts (such as irrigation districts, water districts, and water conservation districts), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutes of higher education. New-group sponsors also have to show they are sponsoring the development of a new watershed group, that they can significantly affect or be affected by water quantity or quality in the watershed, and that they are capable of promoting sustainable use of water resources.
For existing watershed groups, the group must meet the statutory definition of a watershed group, be located in an eligible state or territory, and be legally incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The opportunity also allows a watershed group member or a fiscal agent to apply on the group’s behalf, as long as that applicant is an eligible entity type (for example, a state, Tribe, local or special district, local government, interstate organization, or nonprofit). The notice provides practical guidance on which category to use: groups that are just forming, have little to no restoration planning completed, and need more support for capacity building and stakeholder outreach should apply as a New Watershed Group. Groups that have been active for several years and have already done some watershed planning are generally expected to apply as Existing Watershed Groups, even if they are not incorporated. Applicants that previously received CWMP funding should apply as Existing Watershed Groups and clearly explain how the new work builds on and differs from earlier Phase I efforts. While both categories are scored using the same evaluation criteria, Reclamation ranks New and Existing groups separately to keep comparisons fair, and it may reclassify an applicant’s category during review if it determines a different category fits better.
The notice also clearly states who cannot apply. Federal governmental entities and individuals are ineligible. The opportunity is administered as a grant under CFDA 15.554, with an award ceiling of $300,000. The listing indicates an expected 100 awards, and the opportunity’s original closing date is February 15, 2028. The agency ties the program to stated administration priorities and oversight requirements, referencing Executive Order 14154 (Unleashing American Energy), Secretarial Order 3418, and Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking), signaling that applicants should be prepared for standard federal accountability expectations while pursuing watershed-based planning and collaboration outcomes.Apply for R26AS00349
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.554.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-02-15.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) FAQs
What is the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP)?
CWMP is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation that helps communities organize and plan practical, locally driven responses to water supply and water quality challenges. It is designed to strengthen water reliability by supporting collaborative watershed-based planning and coordination.
What is the main goal of CWMP?
The program aims to improve water reliability by encouraging collaboration among people and organizations that share a watershed. The idea is that coordinated planning can reduce conflict, improve decision-making, and help limited water supplies go further.
What types of activities does CWMP funding support?
Funding supports three main areas: (1) building or strengthening watershed groups, (2) developing watershed restoration plans, and (3) planning and designing watershed management projects, including early-stage planning and design work that helps move concepts toward implementable projects.
What is a "watershed group" under this opportunity?
A watershed group is intended to be grassroots and non-regulatory, focused on water availability and water quality within a watershed, and capable of promoting sustainable water use. A core feature of CWMP is its emphasis on cooperative, consensus-based watershed groups.
What does CWMP mean by "cooperative" and "consensus-based"?
The program emphasizes bringing a broad set of watershed stakeholders into the same process and using a cooperative approach to shape solutions. The intent is that decisions and plans reflect the full range of watershed needs rather than a single sector.
What kinds of stakeholders are expected to be represented in a watershed group?
The notice lists examples including hydroelectric producers, grazing and timber interests, land development, recreation and tourism, irrigated agriculture, environmental interests, municipal water suppliers, private property owners, and federal, state, local, and Tribal governments.
Who can apply for CWMP funding?
Applicants must either (1) be an existing watershed group or (2) be sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group, and the watershed group must be located in an eligible state or territory listed in the notice.
Which states and territories are eligible for CWMP?
Eligible locations include 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, and Puerto Rico.
What is the difference between applying as a New Watershed Group versus an Existing Watershed Group?
New Watershed Group applicants are typically just forming, have little to no restoration planning completed, and need support for capacity building and stakeholder outreach. Existing Watershed Group applicants are typically groups that have been active for several years and have already done some watershed planning.
If a group is not incorporated, can it still apply as an Existing Watershed Group?
The notice indicates that groups that have been active for several years and have already done some watershed planning are generally expected to apply as Existing Watershed Groups, even if they are not incorporated.
Are there extra requirements for Existing Watershed Groups?
Yes. For existing watershed groups, the group must meet the statutory definition of a watershed group, be located in an eligible state or territory, and be legally incorporated as a nonprofit organization.
Can a member organization or fiscal agent apply on behalf of a watershed group?
Yes. A watershed group member or a fiscal agent may apply on the group’s behalf, as long as the applicant is an eligible entity type (such as a state, Tribe, local or special district, local government, interstate organization, or nonprofit).
Who can sponsor the creation of a new watershed group?
Eligible sponsors for new watershed groups include states, Tribes, local or special districts (including irrigation districts, water districts, and water conservation districts), local governmental entities, interstate organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutes of higher education.
What must a sponsor demonstrate when applying to establish a new watershed group?
The sponsor must show that it is sponsoring the development of a new watershed group, that it can significantly affect or be affected by water quantity or quality in the watershed, and that it is capable of promoting sustainable use of water resources.
How are New and Existing Watershed Group applications evaluated?
The notice states that both categories are scored using the same evaluation criteria, but Reclamation ranks New and Existing groups separately to keep comparisons fair.
Can Reclamation change an applicant’s category during review?
Yes. Reclamation may reclassify an applicant’s category during review if it determines that a different category is a better fit.
If an applicant previously received CWMP funding, which category should it use?
Applicants that previously received CWMP funding should apply as Existing Watershed Groups and clearly explain how the new work builds on and differs from earlier Phase I efforts.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Federal governmental entities and individuals are ineligible to apply under this opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered as a grant under CFDA 15.554.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $300,000.
How many awards are expected?
The listing indicates an expected 100 awards.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The opportunity’s original closing date is February 15, 2028.
Does the notice mention any federal priorities or oversight expectations?
Yes. The agency references Executive Order 14154 (Unleashing American Energy), Secretarial Order 3418, and Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight in Federal Grantmaking), signaling standard federal accountability expectations alongside the program’s watershed planning and collaboration outcomes.
Is CWMP focused on implementation construction, or planning and coordination?
Based on the notice description, CWMP focuses on organizing and planning, including building or strengthening watershed groups, creating restoration plans, and planning and designing watershed management projects (including early-stage planning and design work) to move concepts toward implementable projects.
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