Drought Response Program

The Bureau of Reclamation's Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing assistance to water managers to: develop and update comprehensive drought plans, and implement projects that will build long-term resiliency to drought.

Program areas include:

Documents

Announcements

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers $147 Million from Investing in America Agenda for Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Reliability Across the West

The Department of the Interior today announced a $147.6 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help communities prepare and respond to water reliability challenges due to drought and other water scarcity concerns. The funding will support 42 projects in ten states. Read More →

Project Descriptions

FY24 Planning and Project Design Grants, and FY24 Drought Resiliency Projects Webinar

The Bureau of Reclamation hosted an informational webinar on Thursday, August 24th, ato discuss eligible applicants and project types, program requirements, and the evaluation criteria for both the Planning and Project Design Grants funding opportunity and the Drought Resliency Prjects funding opportunity.

Click here to watch a recording of the live event.

Download Slideshow

Biden-Harris Administration Makes Nearly $200 Million Available for Drought and Climate Resiliency Projects as Part of Investing in America Agenda

The Department of the Interior today announced up to $195 million in funding opportunities available through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to develop a more resilient water supply, support cooperative watershed management and safeguard aquatic ecosystems. The funds come primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s WaterSMART program, as well as from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations. Read More →

Biden-Harris Administration Invests More Than $84 million in 36 Drought Resiliency Projects

The Department of the Interior today announced a $84.7 million investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help 36 communities throughout the West prepare and respond to the challenges of drought. The selected projects will help bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through investments in innovative drought resilience efforts, such as groundwater storage, rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, water reuse, ion exchange treatment, and other methods to stretch existing water supplies. Read More →

Project Descriptions

Reclamation approves $865,480 to five western states for drought contingency planning grants to improve long-term drought resiliency

As the western United States faces unprecedented severe drought conditions, the Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the award of six drought planning activities for 2022 WaterSMART: Drought Contingency Planning grants. This program provides federal cost-share funds for entities to develop and update comprehensive drought plans, employing a proactive approach to build long-term resiliency to drought. Read More →

Project Descriptions

CURRENT STATUS

The FY24 Drought Resiliency Projects Grants selections were announced May 6, 2024.

The FY23 Drought Contingency Planning Grants, now available through the new Planning and Project Design Grants funding opportunity, was posted August 7, 2023. First round of applications were due October 17, 2023 and are currently under review. Second round of applications are due May 21, 2024.