Arizona Water Protection Fund

Purpose

In 1994, the Arizona legislature created a Water Protection Fund administered by a 15-member Commission. The fund, which is administered by the director of Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the State Land Commissioner, is earmarked for supporting projects that will enhance riparian areas.

Funding Interests

This program is designed to allow the people of Arizona to prosper while protecting and restoring the state's rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on these important habitats. The fund seeks to provide grants for the development and implementation of measures to protect water of sufficient quality and quantity to maintain, enhance and restore rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats. This also includes fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on these important habitats.

Geographic Focus

Arizona

Types of Support

Each year funds are allocated to specific programs. Refer to the website for the upcoming year's chosen programs.

Grant Size

Requirements & Limitations

Funding is available for the capital, research, and water conservation project categories and applications must demonstrate direct benefits to rivers, streams and/or riparian habitats in Arizona. The Arizona Water protection Fund supports projects that:

 
• Develop or implement on the ground measures that directly maintain, enhance, and restore Arizona's river and riparian resources.
• Aquire Central Arizona Project water or effluent to restore and maintain river and riparian resources.
• Conduct innovative river and riparian research. 
• Implement water conservation measures/programs outside of the 5 Active Management Areas.

Eligible applicants include any person, organization, local, state, federal or tribal, agency entity, or political subdivision of Arizona. Funding is prohibited for purchase of real property/conservation easements, projects outside the state of Arizona, and remedial actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. & 9601, or Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF), A.R.S. 49-281 et seq.Please refer to the Arizona Water Protection Fund website for more detailed requirements.

Application Process

The application form and guidelines regarding proposals are available on the website.

Deadlines

The application deadline for 2011is September 1, 2010 at 3pm. 

Recent Grants

Grant 1

Grant 2

Funding was provided for the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve Restoration Feasibility Project.