The Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) Grant Program provides funding to assist Colorado water users in addressing their critical water supply issues and interests. The funds help eligible entities complete water activities, which may include competitive grants for:
- Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance
- Studies or analysis of structural, nonstructural, consumptive and nonconsumptive water needs, projects or activities
- Design of structural projects or activities
- Infrastructure replacement or maintenance projects
Requests for funds from the WSRF program must be approved by at least one of Colorado’s nine basin roundtables prior to submitting an application. The request is then forwarded to the CWCB to evaluate and make final funding decisions.
Grants may be coupled with any low-interest loan to make up funding needs.
As of May 2022, for any projects focusing on basin or statewide education and outreach projects, visit the Public Education, Participation and Outreach Grant Program.
Please Note: To provide stability to the WSRF grant program, starting on July 1, 2022, the Statewide Account (previously used for match) will now be operated by CWCB as a savings account which will be used to fill up each basin's annual distribution and help reduce the impacts of severance tax variability which has had no disbursement to WSRF in recent years. Balances held in the statewide account act to provide a reservoir of funds, which can make annual releases to the Basin Account.
All new WSRF grants must be submitted on the current application (linked below) along with the current "Exhibit A and Exhibit B Budget & Schedule."
- WSRF Program 2022 Grant Guidelines
- WSRF Application
- Exhibit A & Exhibit B Budget & Schedule (must submit both along with application, no exceptions)
- Who can apply?
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Eligible entities include:
- Governmental entities – municipalities, special, water and sanitation, conservancy, conservations, irrigation and water activity enterprises, counties and State of Colorado agencies. Federal agencies are encouraged to work with local entities. Covered Entities as defined by Section 37-60-126, C.R.S., are eligible IF the applicant has adopted a CWCB approved Water Efficiency Plan.
- Private entities – mutual ditch companies, non-profit corporations, individuals and partnerships, etc.
- How can the money be used?
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Eligible activities include:
- Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance.
- Studies or analysis of structural, programmatic, consumptive and non-consumptive water projects or activities.
- Design of structural projects or activities.
- Infrastructure replacement or maintenance projects.
- Note: Funding for education and outreach efforts must go through the PEPO Grant Program.
- How do I apply?
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- Review the Water Supply Reserve Fund Grant Program 2022 Grant Guidelines.
- Obtain approval from the necessary basin roundtable.
- Submit the Grant Application form, statement of work, budget and schedule via email to Ben Wade. Please review the statement of work template (Exhibit A) and appendices with reference information (Word) and Budget schedule (Exhibit B) (Excel). Work with CWCB staff to address any issues or additional needs prior to CWCB Board review.
- Work with CWCB staff to address any issues or additional needs prior to CWCB Board review.
- When is the deadline to apply?
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Deadlines include October 1, December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, and August 1 of each year.
Prior to submitting an application to CWCB, the applicant must receive written approval from the necessary basin roundtable. Applications will be reviewed during the Board Meeting three months after the submission deadline.
WSRF Basin Roundtable Criteria and Contact Information
| Roundtable | Grant Contact | Phone | Roundtable Criteria |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Abby Ortega | ajortega@csu.org | 719-668-8748 | |
| Colorado | Jason Turner | jturner@crwcd.org | 970-945-8522 | Guidelines |
| Gunnison | Tom Alvey | mcf@wic.net | 970-712-4030 | Guidelines |
| Metro | Sarah Borgers | sborgers@cityofwestminster.us | 303-994-9437 | Guidelines |
| North Platte | Ty Wattenburg | tnwattenburg@gmail.com | 970-723-4660 | Guidelines |
| Rio Grande | Nathan Coombs | cwcd1971@hotmail.com | 719-588-3090 | Guidelines |
| South Platte | Garrett Varra | gvarra@varracompanies.com | 720-272-2857 | Guidelines |
| Southwest | Ed Tolen | etolen@laplawd.org | 970-739-4181 | |
| Yampa/White/Green | Steve Hinkemeyer | steve@yampawhitegreen.com | 970-326-5050 | Guidelines |