Native American Affairs: Fiscal Year 2025 Colorado River Basin Tribal Drought Resiliency Program

The Bureau of Reclamation, within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program to support federally recognized tribes in managing and protecting water resources. This funding opportunity, titled the Native American Affairs Colorado River Basin Tribal Drought Resiliency Program, is designed to address persistent and worsening drought conditions affecting tribal communities within the Colorado River Basin. The program is funded through federal appropriations and reflects broader federal priorities related to water management, drought mitigation, and infrastructure resilience. The primary purpose of this program is to fund projects that mitigate the impacts of drought on tribal water resources. Eligible activities must directly contribute to increasing drought resiliency, improving water delivery efficiency, reducing reliance on declining water sources, or addressing drinking water shortages. Projects may also aim to protect water-related resources or prevent loss of access to water supplies. The program encourages solutions that provide measurable benefits in water availability, quality, and sustainability for tribal communities. Funding is available through grants or cooperative agreements, with an estimated total program funding of six million dollars. Individual awards range from fifty thousand dollars to one million dollars, and approximately ten awards are expected. There is no statutory cost-sharing requirement, although applicants are encouraged to demonstrate collaboration or partnerships. Projects must be completed within a maximum duration of five years, and certain activities are explicitly excluded, including standalone feasibility studies, litigation-related work, and projects lacking clear deliverables. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments that are specifically designated as Colorado River Basin tribes. Applicants must propose projects that directly address drought-related challenges within the Basin. Tribes with enacted Indian Water Rights Settlements may face additional eligibility considerations. The program includes a detailed list of eligible tribes and requires that all proposed activities align with drought mitigation objectives. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov or via approved alternative submission methods. Required components include standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and SF-424A, a project abstract, a detailed project narrative, and a budget narrative. The project narrative must describe the problem, proposed solution, expected outcomes, technical approach, environmental considerations, and implementation plan. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including project need, benefits, implementation readiness, alignment with federal priorities, and construction readiness where applicable. The application deadline is September 23, 2026, at four oclock p.m. Mountain Time. Applicants are advised to complete system registrations in advance, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, as these processes can take several weeks. Award decisions are expected in spring 2026 or later, with project start dates anticipated around January 2027. Projects typically run through January 2029, depending on scope and agreement terms. Contact information is provided for program inquiries, including Dr. Kristine Reed and regional contacts for both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins. The program emphasizes compliance with federal environmental and cultural resource regulations, and recipients must adhere to reporting, auditing, and performance monitoring requirements throughout the project lifecycle. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a targeted federal effort to strengthen tribal resilience to drought through strategic investment in water resource management.

Focus on clearly demonstrating drought impact urgency and measurable water resource benefits while aligning with federal priorities and providing detailed implementation plans