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Big Pine Water Resources Plan Grant Opportunity: Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the Big Pine Water Resources Plan grant opportunity?

This is a Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Lower Colorado Region funding action intended to support the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley in strengthening water use efficiency and improving irrigation management on the Big Pine Indian Reservation in Inyo County, California.

2) Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The opportunity is a Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) funding action through BOR's Lower Colorado Region.

3) Who is the intended recipient of this grant?

The notice indicates the grant is intended to support the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley.

4) Where will the project take place?

The work is tied to the Big Pine Indian Reservation in Inyo County, California, within the Owens Valley.

5) Why is this project needed (as described in the notice)?

The project is rooted in the Tribe's long history of irrigating and cultivating land in the Owens Valley using diverted tributary flows delivered through ditch systems. The notice explains that outside settlement and later large-scale acquisition of Owens Valley land and water rights by the City of Los Angeles fundamentally altered local water availability and control. It also notes that the Reservation's water allocation was shaped by a land exchange between the U.S. Department of the Interior and the City of Los Angeles, resulting in a constrained supply and regulatory context that has influenced the Tribe's water management approaches.

6) What is the overall purpose of the current proposal?

The proposal continues a BOR-Tribe partnership with a practical, multi-phased plan aimed at reducing potable water demand while also improving the efficiency and reliability of irrigation water delivery for the Reservation.

7) What are the three core goals of the grant?

The grant focuses on three core goals:

• Supporting technical assessments of the Tribe's irrigation systems (evaluating existing infrastructure, identifying losses/inefficiencies, and developing prioritized recommendations).
• Funding improvements to irrigation water supply and distribution systems (repairs, modernization, or targeted upgrades to improve reliability and reduce waste).
• Emphasizing stronger water management, conservation, and overall efficiency so improvements are sustained through better practices and longer-term planning.

8) What does "technical assessments" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, technical assessments typically include evaluating existing irrigation infrastructure, identifying losses and inefficiencies, and developing prioritized recommendations for upgrades or operational changes.

9) What kinds of irrigation improvements may be supported?

The notice describes improvements to irrigation water supply and distribution systems that may include repairs, modernization, or targeted upgrades intended to help irrigation water reach end users more reliably and with less waste.

10) How does the opportunity address potable versus non-potable water use?

The notice states the plan is aimed at reducing potable water demand while improving irrigation delivery efficiency. It also notes prior BOR-supported work helped increase access to non-potable water for residents and reduce demand on limited potable supplies.

11) What earlier work does this opportunity build on?

It builds on earlier BOR-supported work that helped the Tribe increase access to non-potable water for residents and reduce demand on limited potable supplies through measures such as installing water meters and providing water-use-efficiency education.

12) Will the Tribe do the work directly or rely on contractors?

The notice states the Tribe expects to perform much of the work using force account staff, meaning Tribal personnel would carry out a significant portion of on-the-ground implementation rather than relying entirely on outside contractors.

13) What is the assistance listing / CFDA number for this grant?

The opportunity is listed as CFDA 15.519, described as Indian Tribal Water Resources Development, Management, and Protection.

14) Is this a discretionary grant?

Yes. The notice describes it as a discretionary grant under CFDA 15.519.

15) What is the total estimated funding amount?

The estimated total funding is $81,267.

16) What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?

Both the award floor and award ceiling are $81,267, indicating a single, fixed award amount.

17) How many awards were expected?

Only one award was expected.

18) Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided.

19) Is this an open competitive funding opportunity?

No. The notice states that no competition is being sought and that it serves as a notice of intent to award, which generally indicates BOR planned to make the award to an identified recipient rather than solicit applications broadly.

20) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on August 2, 2012.

21) What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed is August 16, 2012.

22) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed is September 15, 2012.

23) Who can be contacted with questions or if there are issues accessing the full announcement?

The listed contact is Shawna Thompson, Grants Officer, at 702-293-8570 or smthompson@usbr.gov.

24) What does it mean that this is a "notice of intent to award"?

As described in the notice, a notice of intent to award indicates that no competition is being sought and that BOR generally intended to make the award to the identified recipient rather than open the opportunity to broad applications.