Lesson 1: Consider Sustainability from the Beginning 

• Look into the future at suitability and longevity 

Lesson 2: Go after the right grants 

• Do your homework on grant source 
• Assess capacity and mission alignment 
• Try to strike a balance in narrative between the ‘need’ and ‘having capacity and ability’ to deliver on a grant 
• Mission alignment is key for suitability, trying to bend your mission to grant adds unneeded difficulty 
• Don’t be afraid to not apply for a grant if it doesn’t fit your needs 
• It can take several rounds or applications to get the funding you need. 

Lesson 3: Collaboration is usually better than competition 

• Apply for your strength areas, support others for their strengths 
• Sometimes forgoing grants and working with others can be better for everyone 

Lesson 4: Build relationships with grant management staff 

• Be honest and share struggles, they can help ensure compliance 
• It can build connections and bring further funding in the future. 

Federal Grants Learning Center 

A repository of resources on how to manage and apply for federal grants. 

• Grants 101 
• Grant Policies 
• Grant Eligibility 
• Grant Terminology 
• Grant-Making Agencies 
• Grant Systems 
• Grant Programs 
• Grant Reporting 
• Grant Fraud 

Tools and General information on the WaterSMART program 

The WaterSMART program allows the Bureau of Reclamation to work closely with states, tribes, and local partners to bolster adequate and safe water supplies by providing investments and working cooperatively to protect public health, environmental needs, and upgrading aging infrastructure.  

WaterSMART Data Portal 

WaterSMART Data Visualization 

WaterSmart Factsheet 

EPA Watershed Academy 

A set of webinars, educational modules and publications that provides an introduction to watershed management. Watershed Academy is free of cost and requires no registration. 

University of Arizona - Stream Adjudications Project 

Claimants in Arizona’s general stream adjudications with small water right claims may apply for limited legal representation. To be eligible for assistance from the Arizona Adjudications Project, you must:  

• Have a surface water right claim within Arizona’s Gila River Adjudication or Little Colorado River Adjudication. 
• Be a small landowner. 
• Have no legal representation. 

Contact [email protected] or (520) 621-6722 

Application for Assistance Instructions 

ASU Kyl Center - Groundwater Level Changes in Arizona Sub-basins 

An interactive map that shows groundwater level changes across the state's sub-basins for 1-year, 10-year, and 20-year time periods. 

ASU Arizona Water Blueprint - Arizona Groundwater Dashboard 

The Arizona Groundwater Dashboard provides insights about groundwater use in each of the state's 51 groundwater basins. 

West Environmental Justice Center – Technical Assistance Center 

The Western Environmental Science Technical Assistance Center for Environmental Justice (WEST EJ Center) will give your organization or group free hands-on help, training, resources, and support to tackle environmental or energy justice challenges. 

More information on the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers can be found here. 

Email:  [email protected] 

EPA EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool 

This screening tool and data may be of interest to community residents or other stakeholders as they search for environmental or demographic information. It can also support a wide range of research and policy goals. 

EJScreen may also be used to support: 

•  Educational programs 
• Grant writing 
• Community awareness efforts 

Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice 

They help community organizations by providing technical assistance. This includes conducting environmental and energy justice needs assessment and analyses, facilitating navigation of government systems, identifying grant opportunities, and increasing grant getting and administration capacity. They also support decision-making participation and train community champions. 

Technical Assistance Intake Form 

Email address: [email protected] / phone: (619) 594-8287 

Contact: Loren Halili, [email protected] 

Center for Community Energy & Environmental Justice 

July 26, 2024 - From Access to Action: How Tribal Governments can Utilize the TCTACs 

July 1, 2024 – Local Impact: Leveraging TCTACs for Thriving Communities 

Grant Modules 

September 25, 2024 – Module 4: Procurement Standards 

August 9, 2024 – Module 3: Communicating Grant Results: Reporting 

May 20, 2024 – Module 2: Financial Management Systems 

March 20, 2024 – Module 1: Into to Grant Regulations 

USDA – Rural Development FY 2025 Technical Assistance & Training Grant Application Guide 

Weather- and Soil Moisture-Based Landscape Irrigation Scheduling - Review Report 

Weather-Based Devices - Summary 

Soil Moisture-Based Devices - Summary 

EPA Sustainable Finance Module 

EPA Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters 

EPA Recovery Potential Screening (RPS) - Comparing Watershed Condition and Restorability 

Office of Water 2022-2026 Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan