Opportunity Information: Apply for R15AN20005
Apply for R15AN20005
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Westside Regional Drainage Plan San Joaquin River Salinity Management 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement" 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 Aug 14, 2015 and posted on Aug 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 28, 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 $1.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Westside Regional Drainage Plan - San Joaquin River Salinity Management - 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement (Funding Opportunity Number R15AN20005) was a Bureau of Reclamation grant designed to keep building out long-running drainage and water quality improvements in Californias Grasslands Drainage Area. The basic purpose was to fund on-the-ground projects identified in the Westside Regional Drainage Plan (WRDP) that help manage and reduce salinity (and related contaminants) reaching the lower San Joaquin River, while also improving fish and wildlife habitat in the river corridor and in nearby wetlands and refuges. It sits within a broader federal effort that has been underway since the early 2000s to create a sustainable system for controlling agricultural drainwater that would otherwise be discharged to the river.
The work funded under this 2015 agreement focused on both infrastructure and land management actions. Federal dollars were intended to cover personnel costs and major capital improvements, including the design and construction of four pumping plants with associated pipelines, plus the design and construction of an equipment storage building to support ongoing operations. The agreement also supported practical access and maintenance improvements by converting up to 13 miles of dirt roads into all-weather roads, which matters for reliable operation and monitoring during wet periods. On the land management side, the grant supported planting up to 572 acres of salt-tolerant crops as part of a strategy to beneficially use or manage salty drainage water, and it included filling in 1.8 miles of drainage ditch that was considered unneeded, reducing pathways for drainage water movement and helping simplify the system. Collectively, these actions were positioned as continued implementation of the WRDP and were tied directly to the documented outcome of reducing the volume of agricultural drainwater discharged to the San Joaquin River.
The public benefit case for the award was framed around measurable improvements in water quality and habitat conditions. The recipient (a special district government responsible for drainage service in the Grasslands Drainage Area) described major results already achieved through prior WRDP investments: displacement of about 192,000 acre-feet of agricultural drainwater that carried more than 997,300 tons of salts and about 39,700 pounds of selenium. Those figures were presented as contaminants that otherwise would have reached the San Joaquin River, so the program logic is that keeping that load out of the river supports cleaner water, healthier adjacent wetlands, and improved conditions on public lands, while still sustaining agricultural production in the region.
Administratively, this opportunity was structured as a continuation grant with a single expected award. The posted estimated total funding was $3,750,000, with the award floor and ceiling both set at $3,750,000, indicating a single fixed-size award rather than a range. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. Eligibility was limited to special district governments, aligning with the nature of the recipient entity that owns and operates drainage management facilities and land central to the WRDP approach. The application window was short: posted August 14, 2015, with a closing date of August 28, 2015 (and archived September 27, 2015). The CFDA number listed was 15.517 under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
Reclamations role was intentionally limited. The announcement stated that no substantial federal involvement was anticipated beyond normal stewardship, such as monitoring performance and providing technical assistance if the recipient asked for it. That signals the project was expected to be executed largely by the recipient using established capabilities and existing systems, with Reclamation acting mainly as the grantor overseeing compliance and results.
A notable part of the notice is the explicit single-source justification under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), explaining why the award was not competed. Reclamation relied on two criteria. First was Continuation: the 2015 activities were considered necessary to satisfactorily complete, or continue, work already underway, and competing the award would risk disrupting continuity. The notice pointed to more than $39 million in prior federal investment with the recipient since 2002 (and similar projects funded since 2009), along with the recipients success meeting selenium and salinity load targets. Second was Unique Qualifications: the recipient was described as the public entity responsible for providing drainage service to farmers in the Grasslands Drainage Area and as the owner/operator of key drainwater management facilities, including more than 6,000 acres used to displace agricultural drainwater through irrigation of salt-tolerant crops. In other words, the recipient was positioned as uniquely situated, both legally and operationally, to carry out the work because the core assets and responsibilities are not easily transferred to another organization.
The statutory authority cited for making the award came primarily through the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., including Section 7(a), 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)), as delegated within the Department of the Interior to the Bureau of Reclamation (including references to 255 DM 1.1B and related Reclamation Manual delegation limitations). In practical terms, the authority language emphasizes coordinating wildlife conservation with water resource development and allows Reclamation to provide financial assistance for activities that protect or improve fish and wildlife habitat and associated resources.
Key administrative identifiers included the agency (Bureau of Reclamation), opportunity category (Continuation), instrument type (Grant), activity category (Natural Resources), and an agency contact for access issues: Beverly Breen, Grants Officer (BBreen@usbr.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Westside Regional Drainage Plan (WRDP) 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement?
It was a Bureau of Reclamation grant opportunity titled "Westside Regional Drainage Plan - San Joaquin River Salinity Management - 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement" (Funding Opportunity Number R15AN20005). It was designed to continue implementation of on-the-ground projects identified in the Westside Regional Drainage Plan (WRDP) in California's Grasslands Drainage Area.
What was the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose was to fund WRDP projects that help manage and reduce salinity (and related contaminants) reaching the lower San Joaquin River, while also improving fish and wildlife habitat in the river corridor and in nearby wetlands and refuges. The broader objective was to advance a sustainable system for controlling agricultural drainwater that would otherwise be discharged to the river.
What geographic area did the funded work focus on?
The work focused on California's Grasslands Drainage Area and the lower San Joaquin River, with associated habitat benefits anticipated in the river corridor, nearby wetlands, and wildlife refuges.
What types of projects and activities were supported under the 2015 agreement?
The agreement supported both infrastructure improvements and land management actions. Infrastructure included design and construction work for pumping and conveyance facilities and an operations support building, plus road improvements for access and maintenance. Land management actions included planting salt-tolerant crops and eliminating an unneeded drainage ditch segment.
What infrastructure components were specifically planned or funded?
Federal funds were intended to cover personnel costs and major capital improvements, including:
- Design and construction of four pumping plants with associated pipelines
- Design and construction of an equipment storage building to support ongoing operations
- Conversion of up to 13 miles of dirt roads into all-weather roads to support reliable operation and monitoring during wet periods
What land management actions were included in the scope?
On the land management side, the agreement supported:
- Planting up to 572 acres of salt-tolerant crops as part of a strategy to beneficially use or manage salty drainage water
- Filling in 1.8 miles of drainage ditch considered unneeded, to reduce pathways for drainage water movement and simplify the system
How were these projects expected to improve water quality in the San Joaquin River?
Collectively, the projects were positioned as continued WRDP implementation tied directly to reducing the volume of agricultural drainwater discharged to the San Joaquin River. Reducing the quantity of drainwater discharge was presented as a direct pathway to reducing salinity and related contaminant loads reaching the lower river.
How did the opportunity describe the public benefits of the work?
The public benefit case emphasized measurable improvements in water quality and habitat conditions, including benefits to fish and wildlife habitat in the river corridor and nearby wetlands and refuges, and improved conditions on public lands.
What results were cited from prior WRDP investments?
The notice described major results already achieved through prior WRDP investments, including the displacement of about 192,000 acre-feet of agricultural drainwater carrying more than 997,300 tons of salts and about 39,700 pounds of selenium that otherwise would have reached the San Joaquin River.
What was the total amount of funding available?
The estimated total funding was $3,750,000.
Was this opportunity a single award or multiple awards?
It was structured as a continuation grant with a single expected award. The award floor and ceiling were both $3,750,000, indicating a single fixed-size award rather than a range.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to special district governments.
Why was eligibility limited to special district governments?
Based on the notice, eligibility aligned with the nature of the recipient entity described: a special district government responsible for drainage service in the Grasslands Drainage Area and the owner/operator of key drainwater management facilities and related land central to the WRDP approach.
What was the application timeframe for the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on August 14, 2015, and closed on August 28, 2015. It was archived on September 27, 2015.
What federal agency offered this grant?
The offering agency was the Bureau of Reclamation.
What was the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) was R15AN20005.
What program or CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed was 15.517 under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
How was the opportunity categorized administratively?
It was categorized as a continuation opportunity. The instrument type was a grant, and the activity category was Natural Resources.
What did "continuation grant" mean in this context?
In this notice, "continuation" was used to indicate the 2015 activities were necessary to satisfactorily complete, or continue, work already underway under the WRDP implementation effort, rather than starting a fully new and separate competitive project.
Was the award competed or non-competitive?
The notice included an explicit single-source justification under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), explaining why the award was not competed.
What reasons were given for the single-source (non-competitive) approach?
Reclamation relied on two criteria described in the notice:
- Continuation: the 2015 activities were considered necessary to continue work already underway, and competing the award was described as potentially disrupting continuity. The notice referenced more than $39 million in prior federal investment with the recipient since 2002 (and similar projects funded since 2009), along with success meeting selenium and salinity load targets.
- Unique Qualifications: the recipient was described as the public entity responsible for providing drainage service to farmers in the Grasslands Drainage Area and as the owner/operator of key facilities, including more than 6,000 acres used to displace agricultural drainwater through irrigation of salt-tolerant crops.
What role did the Bureau of Reclamation expect to play during project implementation?
The notice stated that no substantial federal involvement was anticipated beyond normal stewardship. This included monitoring performance and providing technical assistance if the recipient requested it.
What does "no substantial federal involvement" imply for project execution?
It implies the project was expected to be executed largely by the recipient using established capabilities and existing systems, with Reclamation primarily serving as the grantor overseeing compliance and results and offering technical assistance upon request.
What statutory authority was cited for making the award?
The authority cited was primarily the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., including Section 7(a), 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)), with delegation references within the Department of the Interior to the Bureau of Reclamation (including references to 255 DM 1.1B and related Reclamation Manual delegation limitations).
How did the notice connect the authority to the project goals?
The authority language was described as emphasizing coordination of wildlife conservation with water resource development and allowing Reclamation to provide financial assistance for activities that protect or improve fish and wildlife habitat and associated resources, which aligns with the notice's stated habitat improvement benefits.
Who was listed as the agency contact for access issues?
The contact listed was Beverly Breen, Grants Officer, at BBreen@usbr.gov.
What kinds of costs were federal dollars intended to cover?
Federal dollars were intended to cover personnel costs and major capital improvements, including the design and construction of pumping plants and pipelines, and the design and construction of an equipment storage building, along with other implementation-related actions described in the scope.
How did road improvements relate to the project objectives?
Converting up to 13 miles of dirt roads to all-weather roads was presented as important for reliable operation and monitoring during wet periods, supporting ongoing maintenance and performance of the drainage and water quality management system.
How were salt-tolerant crops used as part of drainage management?
The notice described planting up to 572 acres of salt-tolerant crops as part of a strategy to beneficially use or manage salty drainage water, supporting the overall aim of reducing drainwater discharges to the river.
Why would filling in a drainage ditch be part of a water quality strategy?
The notice described filling in 1.8 miles of drainage ditch that was considered unneeded in order to reduce pathways for drainage water movement and help simplify the system, consistent with the aim of controlling agricultural drainwater that might otherwise be discharged.
Was this opportunity part of a longer-running federal effort?
Yes. The description placed it within a broader federal effort underway since the early 2000s to create a sustainable system for controlling agricultural drainwater discharges to the San Joaquin River.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Watershed Rehabilitation and Sediment Control
Previous opportunity: Centennial Bioblitz Data Management Support Phase One
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for R15AN20005
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (R15AN20005) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Watershed Rehabilitation and Sediment Control Apply for R15AN20026 Funding Number: R15AN20026 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,331,126 |
| Weed Management and Jobs Creation Project, Phase 2 Apply for R15AN20017 Funding Number: R15AN20017 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,499,181 |
| WLCI Support of Watershed Management Habitat Enhancement for Triple Creek Forage Reserve Apply for RFA WY08 9012 Funding Number: RFA WY08 9012 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Georgia Resource Conservation Development Projects Apply for USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Agency: Georgia State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| CESU Quantify Thickness of Harding Icefield Apply for J9845100013 Funding Number: J9845100013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Farm Bill Assistance in Trinity County, CA Apply for USDA NRCS CA 10 0004 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 10 0004 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Farm Bill Assistance in Kern County, CA Apply for USDA NRCS CA 10 0005 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 10 0005 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Herbarium Study of Plant Samples from the Arctic Network of Alaskas National Parks Apply for J9840100052 Funding Number: J9840100052 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Systemic Treatment Research Study Letters of Interest Apply for NPS LIGRSM100104 Funding Number: NPS LIGRSM100104 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Vascular and non vascular plant specimen identification, curation, and technical support for vegetation monitoring in the Southwest Alaska Network Apply for J2101100015 Funding Number: J2101100015 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| A Technical Plan to Conduct a Landcover (Vegetation) Inventory for Alagnak Wild River Apply for J2141L0003 Funding Number: J2141L0003 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $103,968 |
| WETLAND RESTORATION ASSISTANCE Apply for USDA NRCS IA 10 02 Funding Number: USDA NRCS IA 10 02 Agency: USDA NRCS Iowa State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Landbird Monitoring 2010 Option Apply for NPS NOINOCAJ9471101071 Funding Number: NPS NOINOCAJ9471101071 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $47,283 |
| Farm Bill Assistance in San Joaquin County, CA Apply for USDA NRCS CA 10 0006 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 10 0006 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Halibut Research Publication Apply for J9815100510 Funding Number: J9815100510 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| A Technical Plan to Conduct Landcover (Vegetation) Inventories for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Sitka National Historical Park Apply for J2141100002 Funding Number: J2141100002 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $105,000 |
| Butterfly Monitoring North Cascades NP Apply for NPS NOINOCAJ9471101283 Funding Number: NPS NOINOCAJ9471101283 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $12,000 |
| Invasive Plant Control by SAGA Crews in Alaskas National Parks Apply for J9923110001 Funding Number: J9923110001 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection Apply for FWS JVGLRI 2011 Funding Number: FWS JVGLRI 2011 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Diagnostic, field, and training assistance for avian health and disease monitoring Apply for FWS DMBM AHDP 2011 0001 Funding Number: FWS DMBM AHDP 2011 0001 Agency: Migratory Birds Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "R15AN20005", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.