Projects Bill Grants

The Projects Bill Grants, authorized by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, address statewide water supply needs through investments ranging from $1 to $10 million. Eligible projects include water management, habitat conservation, and feasibility studies. These grants require matching funds and are aimed at significant regional impacts. Projects must demonstrate a clear need and can be proposed by any public or private entity capable of contracting with the state. Ineligible projects include those that can be completed without state funding.

Projects Bill Grants (formerly Non-Reimbursable Project Investments) are CWCB Board authorized state-wide investments for regional supply needs that do not fit within other CWCB grant programs. Grants also require approval by the General Assembly. Matching funds are typically required, and the amount of funding can vary annually, but is generally between $1 million - $10 million.
Projects eligible for the Projects Bill Grant Program include:

• Projects, programs or studies of statewide impact or importance, such as: ­

Administration of compact-entitled waters; ­Facilitation of solutions to regional water supply problems; ­Addressing federal water rights issues; ­Recovery or conservation of threatened or endangered species within riparian ecosystems; ­Development and management of a state monitoring system for collection and development of hydrologic and climatologic data; and ­River restoration and floodplain management projects affecting agriculture, recreation or other industries that economically impact significant areas of the state.
Feasibility studies and demonstration projects designed to answer questions related to statewide water issues or that have significant potential to result in a CWCB Water Project Loan.
Examples of projects appropriate for a Projects Bill Grant:
Funding for the non-federal cost-share funding for the Frying Pan-Arkansas project (Arkansas Valley Conduit) to provide quality drinking water to six counties in the lower Arkansas Valley.Republican River Compact compliance efforts - provided matching cash incentives to producers to reduce irrigation/facilitate land retirement within the South Fork of the Republican River to meet compact compliance obligations as outlined in a Resolution and subsequent Amendment approved by the Republican River Compact Administration.Windy Gap Bypass Project - Construction of a connectivity channel around Windy Gap Reservoir on the Colorado River near the confluence of the Fraser River. Reconnecting the River and its habitat while maintaining Windy Gap Dam and pump plant operations. The project creates fish passage and is expected to significantly improve aquatic habitat conditions.
Examples of projects typically inappropriate for a Projects Bill Grant:
Water Treatment type projectsProjects that can be completed without additional state grant fundingProjects that can be funded by Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) and Water Plan Grants to significantly improve aquatic habitat conditions.

Eligibility

Any private or public entity that can contract with the state and that can establish and document the need for the project can apply.