Opportunity Information: Apply for R15AN20019
Apply for R15AN20019
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2015 2019 OWRD Pilot Water Bank" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 1, 2015 and posted on Jun 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 12, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $536,342.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $536,342.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2015 to 2019 OWRD Pilot Water Bank grant (Funding Opportunity Number R15AN20019) is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary grant focused on protecting water resources in Oregon's Klamath Basin by closely tracking how increased groundwater pumping affects the aquifer and nearby surface waters. The opportunity is rooted in a major shift that began around 2001, when drought-related shortages in the Klamath Project's surface water supplies led irrigators and water managers to rely much more heavily on groundwater as a backup. Before that period, groundwater levels were described as generally stable over the long term, rising and falling mainly with climate-driven recharge. Once pumping increased, water levels began to decline in and around the Klamath Project where pumping was concentrated, raising concerns that continued withdrawals could undermine the very surface water supplies the water bank is meant to protect and could also threaten the reliability of supplies for senior groundwater users.
At its core, the grant supports the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) in providing monitoring and technical support tied directly to the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program, which is administered in coordination with the Klamath Water and Power Authority (KWAPA) and Reclamation. The water bank concept is intended to help reserve surface water for lake level and instream purposes, but that approach only works if the substitute groundwater pumping does not create unacceptable impacts. For that reason, the grant emphasizes ongoing measurement and oversight so program operations do not inadvertently compromise surface water conditions or cause long-term harm to the aquifer.
The work OWRD is expected to carry out is spelled out in three main responsibilities. First, OWRD must monitor groundwater levels and groundwater use in the Klamath Project area in relation to water bank operations, meaning it is not just collecting general hydrologic information but specifically tracking conditions that could be influenced by the pilot program. Second, OWRD must provide technical assistance to KWAPA and Reclamation to help administer the pilot water bank in a way that minimizes impacts to groundwater resources. This is essentially an applied, management-facing role: turning monitoring information and expertise into practical guidance that helps decision-makers run the program without triggering avoidable declines or conflicts. Third, OWRD must provide updates to Reclamation in Klamath Falls, Oregon, including a presentation at the beginning of the grant period and another at the end, creating formal checkpoints for communicating findings and outcomes.
Reclamation's role in the award is mainly financial and administrative rather than hands-on program execution. The agency provides the funding and performs standard federal stewardship duties such as oversight of project performance, financial accountability, and required reporting under the grant agreement. The notice makes clear that "substantial involvement" by Reclamation is not expected, beyond routine monitoring and technical assistance if requested by the recipient.
A notable feature of this opportunity is that it is issued as a single-source award rather than a fully competitive process, and the announcement includes the Department of the Interior justification framework (505 DM 2) that allows that approach. Reclamation cites the "continuation" criterion as the reason competition is not practicable. Specifically, the new grant continues work previously funded under grant R10AC20099, which ended on 9/30/2014. OWRD is described as the only entity with legal access to the relevant OWRD well sites and as the organization already collecting the data needed to understand irrigation withdrawals and corresponding aquifer declines. The justification also notes that OWRD has an established working relationship with KWAPA, and switching recipients would introduce delays and disruptions that could harm continuity of monitoring and program administration during a sensitive period for water management.
From an administrative standpoint, the award information indicates a single expected award with an estimated total funding amount of $536,342. The listed award ceiling is $536,342, with an award floor of $85,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The eligible applicant category is listed as special district governments. The opportunity was posted June 1, 2015, with a closing date of June 12, 2015, and it was later archived July 12, 2015. The CFDA number provided is 15.517, identified with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the statutory authority cited is Public Law 85-624, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., which generally supports coordination and assistance efforts that ensure wildlife conservation is considered alongside water resource development and management.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a technical monitoring and support effort designed to keep the Klamath Pilot Water Bank functioning as intended by verifying real-world groundwater impacts, reducing risks to connected surface waters reserved for environmental and instream needs, and helping avoid unintended harm to established groundwater users. The contact listed for access issues with the announcement is Beverly Breen, Grants Officer, at BBreen@usbr.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the 2015 to 2019 OWRD Pilot Water Bank grant (Funding Opportunity Number R15AN20019)?
This is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary grant that supports monitoring and technical assistance to help protect water resources in Oregon's Klamath Basin. The grant focuses on closely tracking how increased groundwater pumping (used as a substitute for surface water) affects the aquifer and nearby surface waters in connection with the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program.
Who is the federal sponsor for this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), which provides funding and performs standard federal grant oversight and stewardship responsibilities.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to support the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) in monitoring groundwater levels and groundwater use tied directly to Klamath Pilot Water Bank operations, and to provide technical support that helps manage the water bank in a way that minimizes unacceptable impacts to groundwater and connected surface waters.
Why is groundwater pumping such a central concern in the Klamath Project area?
The opportunity is rooted in changes that began around 2001, when drought-related shortages in the Klamath Project's surface water supplies led irrigators and water managers to rely much more heavily on groundwater as backup. Before that period, groundwater levels were described as generally stable over the long term, fluctuating mainly with climate-driven recharge. After pumping increased, water levels began to decline where pumping was concentrated, raising concerns about impacts to surface waters and to the reliability of supplies for senior groundwater users.
How does this grant relate to the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program?
The grant is designed to provide monitoring and technical support that is tied directly to the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program. The water bank concept is intended to help reserve surface water for lake level and instream purposes, but it depends on substitute groundwater pumping not creating unacceptable impacts. This grant emphasizes measurement and oversight to help ensure water bank operations do not inadvertently compromise surface water conditions or cause long-term harm to the aquifer.
What specific work is OWRD expected to perform under this grant?
The opportunity describes three main responsibilities for OWRD:
- Monitor groundwater levels and groundwater use in the Klamath Project area in relation to water bank operations.
- Provide technical assistance to the Klamath Water and Power Authority (KWAPA) and Reclamation to help administer the pilot water bank in a way that minimizes impacts to groundwater resources.
- Provide updates to Reclamation in Klamath Falls, Oregon, including a presentation at the beginning of the grant period and another at the end.
Is the monitoring general hydrology, or is it specifically linked to the pilot water bank?
It is specifically linked to the pilot water bank. The monitoring requirement is framed as tracking groundwater levels and groundwater use "in relation to water bank operations," meaning the work is aimed at conditions that could be influenced by the pilot program.
What does "technical assistance" mean in the context of this grant?
Based on the description in the opportunity, technical assistance refers to OWRD supporting KWAPA and Reclamation with applied, management-facing guidance so the pilot water bank can be administered in a way that minimizes impacts to groundwater resources. In other words, OWRD is expected to translate monitoring information and expertise into practical input for operating decisions.
What updates or presentations are required to Reclamation?
OWRD must provide updates to Reclamation in Klamath Falls, Oregon, including one presentation at the beginning of the grant period and another at the end. These serve as formal checkpoints to communicate findings and outcomes.
What is Reclamation's role during the award?
Reclamation's role is mainly financial and administrative. The notice indicates Reclamation will provide funding and perform standard federal stewardship duties such as oversight of project performance, financial accountability, and required reporting under the grant agreement.
Does Reclamation anticipate "substantial involvement" in the project work?
No. The notice states that "substantial involvement" by Reclamation is not expected beyond routine monitoring and standard technical assistance if requested by the recipient.
Is this opportunity competitive?
No. This opportunity is described as a single-source award rather than a fully competitive process.
Why was a single-source award used instead of a competitive process?
Reclamation cites the Department of the Interior justification framework (505 DM 2) and relies on the "continuation" criterion, stating that competition is not practicable because the new grant continues work previously funded under grant R10AC20099 (which ended 9/30/2014). The notice also states OWRD is the only entity with legal access to the relevant OWRD well sites and is already collecting the data needed to understand irrigation withdrawals and aquifer declines. Reclamation also notes OWRD's established working relationship with KWAPA and that switching recipients would cause delays and disrupt continuity during a sensitive water-management period.
Which prior grant does this opportunity continue?
It continues work previously funded under grant R10AC20099, which ended on 9/30/2014.
Who is the expected recipient?
The announcement indicates the award is single-source and describes OWRD as the only entity with legal access to the relevant well sites and as the entity already collecting the needed data, indicating OWRD is the intended recipient for the continuation work.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is $536,342.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The listed award ceiling is $536,342, and the award floor is $85,000.
How many awards does the opportunity expect to make?
The award information indicates a single expected award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply according to the announcement?
The eligible applicant category is listed as special district governments.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2015, and the closing date was June 12, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was later archived on July 12, 2015.
What geographic area does the grant focus on?
The grant focuses on Oregon's Klamath Basin, specifically the Klamath Project area, with attention to aquifer conditions and nearby surface waters that could be affected by groundwater pumping associated with pilot water bank operations.
What are the key water-resource risks this grant is trying to reduce?
The opportunity highlights concerns that continued groundwater withdrawals could undermine surface water supplies the water bank is meant to protect and could also threaten the reliability of supplies for senior groundwater users. The grant aims to reduce these risks through ongoing measurement, oversight, and management support tied to program operations.
Who administers the Klamath Pilot Water Bank Program?
The pilot water bank is administered in coordination with the Klamath Water and Power Authority (KWAPA) and Reclamation, with OWRD providing monitoring and technical support under this grant.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.517, identified with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
What statutory authority is cited for this opportunity?
The statutory authority cited is Public Law 85-624, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.
Who is the contact person for access issues with the announcement?
The contact listed is Beverly Breen, Grants Officer. The email provided is BBreen@usbr.gov.
Where are the required updates delivered?
The opportunity specifies updates to Reclamation in Klamath Falls, Oregon, including the beginning and end-of-grant presentations.
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