What is the Drought Mitigation Planning Grant Program?
Awarded through the Water Efficiency Grant Fund Program, Drought Mitigation Planning Grants are provided to assist water providers or state and local governmental entities in developing drought mitigation and response plans.

Who can apply for a Grant?
Covered entities, non-covered entities and local or state governmental entities are eligible to apply for and receive drought mitigation planning grant funding.

How can the money be used?
Grant money may be used to: ­

• Develop a drought mitigation plan; ­
• Offset staff and other internal costs associated with plan development by an entity; and ­
• Engage the technical assistance of a water conservation professional or consultant to aid in the development of a drought mitigation plan.

How do I apply for a Grant?

1. Contact the CWCB to discuss the evaluation criteria for Drought Mitigation Planning Grant applications.
2. Review the Grant Guidelines for Drought Mitigation Planning Projects.
3. Develop the application content following the Guidelines and submit a hard and electronic copy to:

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Attn: Ben Wade 
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, CO 80203

Submit electronic copy in Microsoft Word to:  Ben Wade. 

Application Deadlines ­

• Requests less than $50,000: May be submitted any time throughout the year. ­
• Requests of $50,000 or more: Must be submitted by the first of the month prior to a bi-monthly Board meeting to be considered for award at that Board meeting (e.g., applications must be received by February 1 to be considered for award at the March Board meeting).

What is the approval process after I have submitted an application?
Applications are divided into two categories: ­

• Requests less than $50,000: CWCB staff evaluate, score and prioritize the application using the Grant Guidelines for Drought Mitigation Planning Projects. When an application meets the Guideline criteria, the CWCB Director, or designee, reviews and makes the final award decision. The awarded amount may be what was requested or it may be an alternate amount. Upon the Director’s approval and signature, the Grants Coordinator notifies the applicant of the award within 10 days. ­
• Requests of $50,000 or more: CWCB Board action and approval are required. First, CWCB staff evaluate, score and prioritize the application using the Grant Guidelines for Drought Mitigation Planning Projects. When an application meets the Guideline criteria, the CWCB Board reviews and makes the final award decision. The awarded amount may be what was requested or it may be an alternate amount. Upon the Board’s approval, the Grants Coordinator notifies the applicant of the award within 30 days. ­
• Work cannot begin until a Purchase Order is completed.