Funding

Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) Grant

The Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) Grant Program provides funding to assist Colorado water users in addressing their critical water supply issues and interests. The funds help eligible entities complete water activities, which may include competitive grants for: 

• Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance
• Studies or analysis of structural, nonstructural, consumptive and nonconsumptive water needs, projects or activities 
• Design of structural projects or activities
• Infrastructure replacement or maintenance projects

Requests for funds from the WSRF program must be approved by at least one of Colorado’s nine basin roundtables prior to submitting an application. The request is then forwarded to the CWCB to evaluate and make final funding decisions.

Grants may be coupled with any low-interest loan to make up funding needs.

For WSRF grant applicants, please complete the following REQUIRED questionnaire and submit it with your application:

• Roundtable-specific WSRF questionnaire and criteria (updated April 2022)
• WSRF checklist and flowchart (updated April 2022)

A presentation to the Roundtable is mandatory as part of the WSRF application process.

For the full application and instructions please visit the CWCB website. CWCB will only accept the most recent application form available at this link. For more information or questions, contact Roundtable Chair Ed Tolen, 970-442-1303, [email protected], and CWCB Liaison Ben Wade, [email protected], 303-866-3441 x 3238.

Please email your final application to [email protected], and cc [email protected], [email protected]

Other Funding Opportunities

Southwestern Water Conservation District Grant Program

The Southwestern Water Conservation District periodically offers financial assistance in the form of grants to “qualified entities” that are carrying out the statutory purpose of the District to protect, conserve, use and develop the water resources of the San Juan and Dolores River basins, as well as to safeguard all waters to which the state of Colorado is equitably entitled.

Is your organization working on a water project or otherwise addressing a water need within SWCD’s boundaries? Is your organization a qualified entity? If so, SWCD’s grant program may be a good funding partner! 

The SWCD board considers grants on an annual basis (once a year). For more information on SWCD’s grant program, deadlines and criteria click here.

CWCB Funding
Additional water project funding is available through the CWCB, including the Water Plan Grant Program and Watershed Restoration Program. Visit the CWCB website for the full list of funding opportunities.

CO Department of Local Affairs
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs also provides financial assistance for water and wastewater treatment. Please see this resource for available options.

Municipal Water Supply Projects
For municipal water supply projects, another source is the Colorado Water Resources & Power Development Authority.

Water for Colorado
Water For Colorado -  Colorado Federal Funding Opportunities Click here for more information.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Finally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers multipurpose grants to states and tribes. Click here for more information.

Drought Fire - Flood Funding
Colorado Watershed Restoration Grant money can be used for planning and engineering studies, including implementation measures, to address technical needs for watershed restoration and flood mitigation projects throughout the state.

Check out this comprehensive fact sheet for Drought Financial Assistance opportunities, as well as this DOLA summary for water and wastewater treatment funding assistance.