Bay-Delta Restoration Program: Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency Grants

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The objective of this FOA is to invite Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, water districts and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on projects that save water, improve water management, create new supplies for agricultural irrigation, improve energy efficiency, and benefit endangered species. Projects should also increase the capability or success rate of on-farm water conservation or water use efficiency projects that can be undertaken by farmers and ranchers through irrigation system improvements and irrigation efficiency enhancements. Water conservation and water use efficiency are critical elements of any plan to address Bay-Delta water issues. With leveraged water sustainability grants, an important step will be taken towards increasing conservation for a more efficient use of water in California. Under this FOA, Reclamation intends to select projects at a district or water purveyor level that also increase opportunities for on-farm improvements. In coordination with NRCS, Reclamation will select applicants for funding under this FOA. Successful applicants will enter into a financial assistance agreement with Reclamation. Once projects have been selected under this FOA, NRCS will provide accelerated technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers in the successful applicant’s service area, through USDA programs such as EQIP or AWEP. NRCS California is making available through EQIP and AWEP up to an additional $5,000,000 for on-farm water conservation efforts for this effort.

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