Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects

 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Public Law 117-58, established the Small Water Storage and Groundwater Grant Program to enhance water storage opportunities. It provides up to the lesser of 25 percent, or $30 million, for the cost of planning, design, and construction of small water storage projects that, when implemented, will increase water supply reliability, improve operational flexibility, and enhance climate resiliency of water and related infrastructure throughout the 17 western states, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Active 15.074 Bureau of Reclamation, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2023 On April 6, 2023, Reclamation announced $20 million for the planning, design, and construction of four non-Federal small surface and groundwater storage projects in California and Utah. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)., 43 US Code 3203, Title Western Water Infrastructure, Part Title IX, Section 40903, Public Law 117-58
Public Law 117-328 Eligible recipients of the Small Storage Program funding are identified under the 1902 Act and include State, regional, or local authorities; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; or other entities such as a water conservation or conservancy district, wastewater district, rural water district, located in the 17 western United States (Reclamation State) as identified in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, as amended or Alaska or Hawaii. State, Local, Other public institution/organization, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Native American Organizations. To be eligible to receive funding for construction activities, a small surface water storage or groundwater storage project must meet the minimum eligibility requirements of section 40903 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Funds for construction activities associated with an individual project will not be disbursed until all IIJA pre-construction requirements have been met for that project pursuant to Federal law. These include a finding that the feasibility study meets the requirements of the IIJA and Temporary Reclamation Manual Release (TRMR), Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Study Review Process (CMP TRMR-127). Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact statement is required for this listing. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. To be eligible to receive funding for construction activities, a small surface water storage or groundwater storage project must meet the minimum eligibility requirements of section 40903 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which is commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This includes a finding that the feasibility study meets the requirements of the IIJA and Temporary Reclamation Manual Release (TRMR), Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Study Review Process (CMP TRMR-127). This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Proposals received in response to the funding opportunity are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the funding opportunity. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year and in consideration of the relative score of each proposal. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines The review, scoring and announcement of the recipients typically take three to five months. Not applicable. Not applicable. Reclamation shall give priority to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) likely to provide a more reliable water supply for States, Indian Tribes, and local governments, including subdivisions of those entities; (2) likely to increase water management flexibility and reduce impacts on environmental resources from projects operated by Federal and State agencies; (3) regional in nature; (4) benefit multiple stakeholders; and (5) provide multiple benefits, including water supply reliability, ecosystem benefits, groundwater management and enhancements, and water quality improvements. Reclamation’s Small Storage Program provides cost-shared funding on a competitive basis for the planning, design, and construction of small surface water and groundwater storage projects. Performance Reports: Unless otherwise stated in the agreement document, recipients shall submit Program Performance Reports, on an annual basis. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final Program Performance Report. Not applicable. All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200.333 Retention requirements for records. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient. Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.333. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 75%. Federal funding for Small Storage Program construction projects is generally limited to 25% of the total project or $30 million, whichever is less. The eligible maximum amount will vary by project. The sponsor must pay all operation, maintenance, and replacement (OM&R) costs of the project.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. See funding opportunity for details. payment terms vary by agreement awarded under this program. See Regional Assistance Locations. http://www.usbr.gov/main/regions.html Austin Olah
Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25007
Denver, CO 80225 USA
aolah@usbr.gov
Phone: 303-445-3240 https://www.usbr.gov/smallstorage/ 14-1425-0-1-301 (Project Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $20,000,000.00; FY 24 est $25,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - BIL Funding Up to 25 percent of the total eligible cost of planning, design, and/or construction that will be conducted, up to a maximum of $30 million per project. Temporary Reclamation Manual Release (TRMR), Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects Feasibility Study Review Process (CMP TRMR-127). 2 CFR 200 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS and the applicable OMB Circulars. These documents may also be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Reclamation Office listed below. Fiscal Year 2023 Washington County Water Conservancy District in southern Utah is building a new pipeline from the outlet of the existing Ash Creek Reservoir to the new off-stream Toquer Reservoir located at the north end of Toquerville. The project has been selected to receive a total of $4.7 million in BIL funding made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. At full capacity, the surface area of the proposed Toquer Reservoir will be 115 acres and hold 3,638 acre-feet of water.
Fiscal Year 2024 The next funding opportunity for the Small Storage Program is anticipated to be released in early Fall 2023.