The Bureau of Reclamation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are making federal funding available to improve agricultural water use efficiency throughout California.

The $2 million in funding for fiscal year 2022 will go towards grants or cooperative agreements to water or power delivery authority entities, including water and irrigation districts, to help modernize water infrastructure and maximize water use. NRCS will then announce a separate program to provide funding to farms within those districts for water conservation practices. Past eligible projects have included canal lining or piping, turnout metering and weir structures.

Details on this funding opportunity can be found at grants.gov under opportunity number R21AS00553. Proposals are due March 4, 2022, and must be submitted online. Contact Tom Hawes for more information at [email protected] or 916-978-5271 (TTY 800-877-8339).