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<br />Agenda Item 19 <br />March 16-17, 2004 Board Meeting <br />Page 60f9 <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />; ',. t"J;j <br />,.I v -" .. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />- Collaboration <br /> <br />-Improved Technology <br /> <br />- Remove Institutional Barriers and Increase Interagency Coordination <br /> <br />A.3 OBJECTIVE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS <br /> <br />The objective of this request for proposal (RFP) is to invite irrigation and water districts to leverage their money and <br />resources, by cost sharing with Reclamation, on projects that create water markets and make more efficient use of <br />existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency and water markets. Projects will be selected through <br />a competitive process that will focus on achieving the outcomes identified in Water 2025, particularly the first and <br />second of the four tools described in the Initiative, "Conservation, Efficiency and Markets", and "Collaboration." <br />More information on Water 2025 can be found at http://www.doLgov/water2025 . <br /> <br />Other components of Water 2025, such as research to reduce the cost of desalination, are being addressed <br />through existing processes/programs within Reclamation. For further information on current desalination funding <br />opportunities, please visit http://www.grants.gov (Click on "Find Grant Opportunities" and then click on "Search <br />Grant Synopses." Search by CFDA number: 15.506.). <br /> <br />The Department believes that water banks and markets are essential to avoiding crisis in water short areas of the <br />West. The Department strongly supports the use of these mechanisms, providing State law allows for them, to <br />enable water to be shifted to address competing water uses while recognizing existing water rights. The <br />Department also supports the exploration and development of new water banks and water markets as a tool in <br />meeting water supply needs. <br /> <br />B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS <br /> <br />Emphasis for the FY 2004 Secretarial Competitive 50-50 Challenge Grant Program for <br />Water 2025 will be directed toward proposals that can be completed within 24 months <br />and that reduce future conflicts through water conservation, efficiency, and/or water <br />markets. <br /> <br />B.1 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS <br /> <br />B.1.1 Task A - Water Banks and Water Markets <br /> <br />Implementation and use of water banks and water markets as mechanisms for preserving irrigated agriculture and <br />meeting other existing water supply needs providing such use is recognized by applicable state and federal laws <br />and authorities. Examples include, but are not limited to: <br /> <br />. Provide irrigators and other water users the opportunity to rent, lease or sell water for agricultural or urban uses <br />with the water right remaining in agriculture. <br /> <br />_ Development of a water account that would provide a mechanism for willing buyers to purchase water from willing <br />sellers in order to meet important ecological restoration goals or other specific goals and objectives that would <br />avoid or reduce water conflicts. <br /> <br />B.1.2 Task B - New Technologies for Improved Water Management <br /> <br />Retrofitting and modernizing existing facilities to accomplish improved water management through the use of new <br />technologies with the expected results to be the achievement of additional conserved water supplies. Examples <br />include. but are not limited to: <br /> <br />- Automation of control structures with associated telemetry equipment for off-site control. <br />