Roza Irrigation District YRBWEP Implementation | BOR PN 17 N011

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 17 N011

The Roza Irrigation District YRBWEP Implementation opportunity is a Bureau of Reclamation notice describing an intended, non-competitive cooperative agreement to help fund a specific water conservation construction project in Washington State under the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project (YRBWEP). Rather than inviting new applications, the announcement serves as public notice that Reclamation plans to fund defined project activities with Roza Irrigation District (RID) as the named recipient. The work falls under the natural resources category (CFDA 15.531) and targets irrigation system improvements that are expected to reduce river diversions and deliver broader basin-wide environmental benefits.

At its core, the project is a cost-shared implementation step within the YRBWEP Conservation Program, a joint effort among the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and RID. The funding structure is set by long-standing authorizations: Ecology contributes 17.189 percent of eligible implementation costs using funds tied to Washingtons Agricultural Water Supply Facilities Referendum 38 (Chapter 43.99E RCW, November 1980), while Reclamations share is 65 percent under federal authority provided by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Water Settlement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-434), specifically Title XII addressing YRBWEP. RID is responsible for the remaining 17.189 percent, meaning the district must provide a meaningful local match and carry part of the financial responsibility for delivering the conservation measure.

The specific construction activity being supported is the final buildout of the third reregulation reservoir identified in RIDs long-term Water Conservation Plan. RID adopted that plan in 1998, and it focused on rehabilitating conveyance facilities and constructing three reregulation reservoirs to improve system management and reduce waste. Over time, RID completed two reservoirs, replaced many original check structures, and pursued a significant program of converting open ditches into piped laterals, which typically helps reduce seepage losses, improve delivery control, and lower operational inefficiencies. The plan was reviewed and accepted for a feasibility investigation by both Ecology and Reclamation, and RID completed that feasibility work in July 2012. This grant agreement is aimed at cost-sharing the implementation of the third reservoir at Wasteway 5 (WW5) in accordance with what was laid out in the feasibility investigation.

The public purpose behind the WW5 reregulation reservoir is to encourage voluntary reductions in the amount of water diverted from the Yakima River by improving operational flexibility and efficiency within the irrigation system. In practical terms, reregulation storage can help smooth out delivery fluctuations, capture operational spills, and allow better timing and control of flows, which can translate into fewer unnecessary diversions and less wastage. The project is explicitly tied to YRBWEP goals: improving the availability and reliability of water supplies for irrigation while also protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife resources (including wetlands) and improving water quality across the Yakima River basin.

RID has several clear responsibilities under the agreement terms described. The district must construct the project either directly or through contractors, and the work must substantially follow the approved plan and the defined scope of work, with any changes requiring written agreement among RID, Ecology, and Reclamation. RID must also ensure that the work is performed using detailed plans, designs, estimates, and specifications consistent with sound engineering practice, and these technical materials must be approved by Ecology and Reclamation to protect both federal and state interests in the project. In addition, RID agrees to cover any increases in operation and maintenance costs that result from the new facilities, using reserves, taxes, and or assessments as needed, which underscores that the district will own the long-term operational obligations beyond initial construction.

The schedule requirement is that construction be completed within a maximum of seven years, though the timeline can be extended if federal and state funds are not available. Any extension would require written approval from both Ecology and Reclamation, reflecting the shared governance and funding oversight structure of the program. Administratively, the announcement lists the opportunity as discretionary and structured as a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), which typically indicates more substantial federal involvement in oversight, coordination, and approval processes during implementation.

Key opportunity details included in the notice are: Funding Opportunity Number BOR PN 17 N011; eligible applicants limited to special district governments (consistent with RID as an irrigation district); an award ceiling of $3,155,635; and an original closing date listed as 2017-09-01. Despite the presence of a closing date, the announcement repeatedly emphasizes it is not a request for applications, but rather a notice of intent to fund RID without full and open competition for this specific YRBWEP implementation activity at WW5.

• The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Roza Irrigation District YRBWEP Implementation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.531.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,155,635.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Special district governments.

Apply for BOR PN 17 N011

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