DOI Announces Funding Opportunity for Ecosystem and Habitat Restoration in the Upper Colorado River Basin
Government
These funds will help increase community and landscape resiliency while restoring habitats and assisting in species recovery. These funds are made available through the Bureau of Reclamation from the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest ever investment in climate—for use in the Upper Basin States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
The Colorado River Basin provides water for more than 40 million people, fuels hydropower resources in seven U.S. states, is a crucial resource for 30 Tribal Nations and two states in Mexico, and supports 5.5 million acres of agriculture and agricultural communities across the West, in addition to important ecosystems and endangered species. Despite improved hydrology in recent months, a historic 23-year drought has led to record low water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead.
In October 2022, the Department announced an investment from the Inflation Reduction Act in long-term system efficiency improvements across the basin, including at least $500 million in the Upper Basin States to result in additional water conservation, environmental benefits, and ecosystem and habitat restoration. Reclamation is implementing the use of these funds in two phases. For the earlier phase, Reclamation invested nearly $50 million to support the relaunch of a System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The SCPP was administered in water years 2023 and 2024 and will conserve a total of 104,000 acre-feet of water by the end of this September. Today’s solicitation is for projects that provide environmental benefits, including ecosystem and habitat restoration.
Applicants must be a public or Tribal entity or be partnered with such an entity to implement the project. More detailed information for applicants, including additional eligibility and evaluation criteria and how to apply can be found at the Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program website. Applications for projects will be accepted through September 27, 2024. Selections are anticipated to be made by the end of 2024 or early in 2025.