WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program

To be eligible, the entity must be either an existing watershed group or sponsoring the establishment of a new watershed group, as defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see definition below), that is located in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As defined in Section 6002 of the Cooperative Watershed Management Act (see �Legislative Authority� below for full citation), a �watershed group,� is a grassroots, non-regulatory entity that addresses water availability and quality issues within the watershed and is capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. A watershed group makes decisions on a consensus basis, and represents a diverse group of stakeholders, such as hydroelectric producers, livestock grazing, timber production, land development, recreation or tourism, irrigated agriculture, the environment, municipal water supplies, private property owners, Federal, state and local governments, and Tribes. New Watershed Groups: State, Tribe, local or special district (e.g., irrigation, water district, water conservation district), local governmental entity, interstate organization, a non-profit organization, or an institute of higher education sponsoring a watershed group located in a state or territory identified above. In addition, you must meet all the following requirements: 1. Be sponsoring the development of a new watershed group; 2. Be able to significantly affect or be affected by the quality or quantity of water in the watershed; and 3. Be capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources. Existing Watershed Groups: The watershed group must: 1. Meet the definition of a watershed group as described under the Cooperative Watershed Man