Bureau of Reclamation’s Proposed Drought Response Program Evaluation Criteria is Open for Public Comment

Commissioner’s Office
Washington, DC

Media Contact:  Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Immediate Release:  Feb. 10, 2015

Reclamation’s Proposed Drought Response Program Evaluation Criteria is Open for Public Comment

WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comment on its draft Drought Response Program evaluation criteria. This new program, based on its existing drought authorities, will provide funding for:

Drought contingency planning: Reclamation will provide financial assistance through cooperative agreements that include a 50/50 cost-share to develop or update drought contingency plans. Plans must include input and participation by multiple stakeholders and must consider climate change impacts to drought conditions and identify potential drought mitigation and response actions to build long-term resilience to drought.

Implementation of projects to build long-term resiliency to drought: Reclamation will provide financial assistance through a funding opportunity announcement on a 50/50 cost-share basis to implement projects that build long-term resiliency to drought. Proposed drought resiliency projects must be supported by an existing drought contingency plan to be eligible.

Implementation of emergency response actions: Reclamation will continue to fund emergency drought response actions to address ongoing drought emergencies contingent on available funding. To be eligible, the applicant needs an existing drought contingency plan on file or a state governor or tribal leader drought declaration. Assistance must be requested in writing.

Program funding is allocated through a competitive process. The evaluation criteria that Reclamation will use to implement each program element is available for review at www.usbr.gov/drought. Comments are due to Avra Morgan at aomorgan@usbr.gov by March 12, 2015.

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