Reclamation awards $40.99 million WaterSMART grants, 12 California projects are included

The Bureau of Reclamation has selected 54 projects to share $40.99 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants to help projects use water more efficiently. Out of the 54 projects selected 12 are in California and will receive a combined $11 million.

“The WaterSMART Program is helping Reclamation address the West’s water challenges,” said Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “Water and Energy Efficiency Grants provide water districts and communities the needed assistance to modernize their water delivery infrastructure and increase hydropower generation.”

California agencies, their projects and the grant funding includes:

• Bard Water District, Construction of Five Gates Conveyance Improvements: $300,000
• Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project: $1,500,000
• Firebaugh Canal Water District, 2nd Lift Canal Lining Project Reclamation Funding: $1,000,000
• City of Needles, Needles Advanced Meter Infrastructure Project with Automated Meter Reading: $213,826
• North Kern Water Storage District, Calloway Canal Lining and Water Delivery Improvements: $1,500,000
• City of Oceanside, City of Oceanside Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (Phase II): $1,500,000
• Rancho California Water District, Compound Meter Upgrade Project: $454,784
• City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Automated Metering Infrastructure Installation Project: $1,200,000
• City of Santa Ana, SA-1 Hydropower and Water Conservation Project: $300,000
• City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (Phase 2): $1,500,000
• Sutter Mutual Water Company, Bohannon Dam Automation Project: $806,610
• Western Municipal Water District, Riverside Service Area Meter Replacement and Customer Portal (Phase 2): $1,000,000

According to Reclamation’s we site WaterSMART allows all bureaus of the Department of the Interior to work with states, tribes, local governments and non-governmental organizations to pursue a sustainable water supply for the nation by establishing a framework to provide federal leadership and assistance on the efficient use of water, integrating water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all natural resources, and coordinating the water conservation activities of various Interior offices.