WaterSMART Initiative (WSI)

Managing water resources in the American West can be challenging. Drought, aging infrastructure, and environmental requirements can strain existing resources. Through NRCS’s EQIP WaterSMART Initiative (WSI), we collaborate with the Bureau of Reclamation to coordinate investments in priority areas for improving our cumulative impact in water conservation and drought resilience.

NRCS and Reclamation have been coordinating EQIP and WaterSMART investments since a pilot by California NRCS in 2011.

For Fiscal Year 2024, NRCS selected 9 new priority areas and is continuing to offer funding in 36 prior approved areas, making $29.7 million in EQIP funding available through the WSI across 16 states.

How Does the WaterSMART Initiative Work?

Reclamation makes their WaterSMART programs available across the Western US and other areas to help states, tribes, and local entities plan for and implement projects that increase water supply by providing funds to modernize existing infrastructure and otherwise build drought resilience.

NRCS uses EQIP WaterSmart funds to complement Reclamation WaterSMART funded projects by helping eligible farmers and ranchers make improvements that align with the paired Reclamation WaterSMART project.

Eligible farmers and ranchers with operations in a selected priority area will be automatically ranked in the EQIP-WSI targeted fund pool when they apply for EQIP funding.

How does WSI benefit producers?

Through this initiative NRCS provides eligible EQIP applicants with the additional resources and tools needed to manage soil moisture, improve irrigation water use efficiency in crop and pasture lands, and protect irrigation water sources from depletion.

In addition, EQIP funding also helps farmers and ranchers improve soil health; reduce soil erosion, sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loss in fields; protect crop health and productivity; and make using equipment, facilities, and agricultural operations more efficient.

How does WSI benefit the public?

By coordinating NRCS’s EQIP and Reclamation’s WaterSMART investments, this federal collaboration works to ensure that water users conserve this vital resource for use during droughts or use by others in the community needing it for clean drinking water or energy, industry, management of wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes, and other uses. This collaboration is a priority of the National Drought Resilience Partnership.

How Does the WaterSMART Initiative Work?

Reclamation makes their WaterSMART programs available across the Western US and other areas to help states, tribes, and local entities plan for and implement projects that increase water supply by providing funds to modernize existing infrastructure and otherwise build drought resilience.

NRCS uses EQIP WaterSmart funds to complement Reclamation WaterSMART funded projects by helping eligible farmers and ranchers make improvements that align with the paired Reclamation WaterSMART project.

Eligible farmers and ranchers with operations in a selected priority area will be automatically ranked in the EQIP-WSI targeted fund pool when they apply for EQIP funding.

FY 2024 Priority Area Projects

Active across the West are 9 new and 36 ongoing areas targeted for $29.7 million of FY'24 Environmental Quality Initiative Program (EQIP) WaterSMART Initiative (WSI) funds available for complementing Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART projects. 13 areas selected during the last three years completed the funding phase of program delivery and technical assistance is being provided to contract participants.

About Multi-Year Priority Area Funding Projects

The project descriptions below include the following key information and a narrative about the collaborative effort: the name of the funding project, the amount of EQIP-WSI funds budgeted to help eligible producers in the area, the extent in acres of the area, the funding timeline, the target number of new contracts funded in the area, the target amount of new acres under contract, what Reclamation WaterSMART Program categories provided funding by year to the complemented project, and the type of complementary project completed by a local irrigation district or other water management organization receiving the Reclamation WaterSMART funds.

FY2024 Priority Area Projects

Contact your local NRCS office to apply and for more information.

EQIP WaterSMART Initiative (WSI) 2023 Progress Report

How to Get Assistance