Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 17 N018
The Lewiston Orchards Water Exchange Project Lead grant is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary funding opportunity focused on resolving long-running water supply, infrastructure, and environmental conflicts tied to the Lewiston Orchards Project (LOP) near Lewiston, Idaho. The LOP is a federal Reclamation project operated by the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID) that delivers residential irrigation water to roughly 22,000 patrons across about 3,828 acres. Much of the project infrastructure and its gravity-fed conveyance system sit on the Nez Perce Tribe Reservation within the Lapwai Creek watershed, a tributary to the Clearwater River in the Columbia River basin. Because the system relies on seasonal surface-water diversions and storage (including Waha Lake and Soldiers Meadow Reservoir) that reduce flows and connectivity in Lapwai Creek, it has created conflicts with tribal cultural and natural resource interests and has harmed ESA-listed Snake River steelhead. Water availability is also frequently inadequate for LOID demand, leading to patron restrictions, while aging facilities require costly repair or replacement.
The central purpose of the broader effort described in the notice is a transition away from the existing surface-water diversion and gravity conveyance approach and toward a multi-well groundwater supply. Reclamation’s long-term direction is to incrementally replace the surface-water system with groundwater wells, decommission the surface diversion system, and protect the “exchanged” surface water instream to improve watershed conditions and reduce impacts on steelhead. This work builds on earlier collaborative planning under the Lower Clearwater Exchange Project (LCEP), including a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding and a 2011 appraisal study that evaluated options to achieve a more reliable water supply for LOID while addressing ESA compliance and federal tribal trust responsibilities. A pilot well jointly funded by Reclamation and LOID has already demonstrated the targeted production rate, suggesting the regional aquifer can support additional wells, and the project is moving into a new phase that includes building a power substation and constructing additional wells.
The grant specifically targets support for the Nez Perce Tribe (as the eligible applicant group is federally recognized tribal governments) to serve as a key technical and coordination lead during this next phase. The work outlined centers on six major duties. First, the Tribe would act as the primary technical contact, participate in regular project coordination meetings, help organize and share information among parties, and assist with developing legislation and partnerships needed for title transfers. Second, the Tribe would support development of management agreements, including recreation and fishing arrangements for Reservoir A, Soldiers Meadow Reservoir, and Lake Waha (in coordination with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game), and also help the Bureau of Indian Affairs and LOID establish management and operations terms for Reservoir A. Third, during construction, the Tribe would assist LOID with potential land acquisition for wells, pipelines, and related facilities; help navigate permitting and requirements across city, county, state, and federal levels; and support efforts to secure electrical service and a substation for the well field. Fourth, the Tribe would help create interim annual operating plans for LOID, using modeling and analysis to characterize each water year and anticipate how operations will meet flow needs as additional wells come online, with a planning milestone described as April 1 each year. Fifth, the Tribe would assist with implementing and reviewing the methodology used to calculate water exchange values, including coordinating with LOID, NOAA, and Reclamation to set annual bypass flows at the Sweetwater and Webb Creek diversions and develop an allocation plan for available water between those creeks. Sixth, the Tribe would help secure and formalize water rights arrangements by developing an agreement that clearly defines how LOP water rights would transfer from Reclamation to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in trust for the contractor, enabling permanent protection of the water right consistent with the water exchange and intended benefits to the Nez Perce Tribe and its members.
Key administrative details in the opportunity listing include a funding opportunity number BOR PN 17 N018, CFDA 15.519, activity category Natural Resources, and a grant instrument type. The award ceiling is listed as $160,000, the original closing date was September 19, 2017, and eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The notice also states that there is no anticipated involvement from Reclamation for this award, even though the overall project context heavily references Reclamation’s broader objectives and prior collaboration with LOID.Apply for BOR PN 17 N018
- The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lewiston Orchards Water Exchange Project Lead" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.519.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-09-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $160,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Lewiston Orchards Water Exchange Project Lead Grant (BOR PN 17 N018) - FAQs
What is the Lewiston Orchards Water Exchange Project Lead grant?
This is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary funding opportunity intended to support coordination and technical leadership for the next phase of work related to the Lewiston Orchards Project (LOP) near Lewiston, Idaho. The broader effort aims to resolve long-running water supply, infrastructure, and environmental conflicts tied to how the LOP currently diverts and conveys water.
What problem is this funding trying to address?
The existing LOP system relies on seasonal surface-water diversions and storage (including Waha Lake and Soldiers Meadow Reservoir) and a gravity-fed conveyance system. This approach has contributed to reduced flows and connectivity in Lapwai Creek (within the Lapwai Creek watershed, a tributary to the Clearwater River), created conflicts with tribal cultural and natural resource interests, harmed ESA-listed Snake River steelhead, and still often fails to meet Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID) water demand. In addition, much of the infrastructure is aging and requires costly repair or replacement.
Where is the Lewiston Orchards Project located?
The Lewiston Orchards Project is near Lewiston, Idaho. Much of the project infrastructure and its gravity-fed conveyance system are located on the Nez Perce Tribe Reservation within the Lapwai Creek watershed, which is part of the Clearwater River system in the Columbia River basin.
Who operates the Lewiston Orchards Project?
The LOP is described as a federal Reclamation project operated by the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID).
Who does the LOP provide water to, and at what scale?
LOID delivers residential irrigation water to roughly 22,000 patrons across about 3,828 acres.
What is the long-term direction described for fixing the system?
Reclamation’s long-term direction, as described in the notice context, is to transition away from the existing surface-water diversion and gravity conveyance approach and instead incrementally replace it with a multi-well groundwater supply. The direction also includes decommissioning the surface diversion system and protecting the "exchanged" surface water instream to improve watershed conditions and reduce impacts on steelhead.
What does "water exchange" mean in this opportunity’s context?
Based on the description, the concept involves shifting LOID supply toward groundwater wells while leaving (or protecting) the surface water that would otherwise be diverted to remain instream, with the intention of improving watershed conditions and reducing impacts on ESA-listed Snake River steelhead. The opportunity also references a methodology to calculate water exchange values and setting annual bypass flows at specific diversions.
What earlier planning efforts does this work build on?
The described work builds on collaborative planning under the Lower Clearwater Exchange Project (LCEP), including a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding and a 2011 appraisal study that evaluated options to improve water supply reliability for LOID while addressing ESA compliance and federal tribal trust responsibilities.
Has the groundwater approach been tested already?
Yes. The notice states that a pilot well jointly funded by Reclamation and LOID demonstrated the targeted production rate, suggesting the regional aquifer can support additional wells.
What phase is the project entering now, according to the notice?
The opportunity describes moving into a new phase that includes building a power substation and constructing additional wells.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The notice specifically frames the grant as targeting support for the Nez Perce Tribe to serve as a key technical and coordination lead.
What is the stated purpose of having the Tribe serve as the project lead for this phase?
The opportunity describes the Tribe acting as a key technical and coordination lead during the next phase of project implementation, supporting coordination among parties, assisting with management and operations planning, supporting permitting and land needs during construction, participating in water-year operational planning, coordinating technical exchange-flow methods, and helping formalize water rights arrangements aligned with the exchange.
What are the main duties or tasks funded under this grant?
The notice outlines six major duty areas for the Tribe:
- Technical lead and coordination: act as primary technical contact; participate in regular project coordination meetings; organize and share information among parties; assist with developing legislation and partnerships needed for title transfers.
- Management agreements: support development of management agreements including recreation and fishing arrangements for Reservoir A, Soldiers Meadow Reservoir, and Lake Waha (in coordination with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game); help the Bureau of Indian Affairs and LOID establish management and operations terms for Reservoir A.
- Construction support: assist LOID with potential land acquisition for wells, pipelines, and related facilities; help navigate permitting and requirements across city, county, state, and federal levels; support efforts to secure electrical service and a substation for the well field.
- Interim annual operating plans: help create interim annual operating plans for LOID using modeling and analysis to characterize each water year and anticipate how operations will meet flow needs as additional wells come online; includes an annual planning milestone described as April 1 each year.
- Water exchange calculations and bypass flows: assist with implementing and reviewing the methodology used to calculate water exchange values; coordinate with LOID, NOAA, and Reclamation to set annual bypass flows at the Sweetwater and Webb Creek diversions and develop an allocation plan for available water between those creeks.
- Water rights arrangements: help secure and formalize water rights arrangements by developing an agreement defining how LOP water rights would transfer from Reclamation to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in trust for the contractor, enabling permanent protection consistent with the water exchange and intended benefits to the Nez Perce Tribe and its members.
Which water bodies and facilities are specifically referenced in the grant description?
The notice references Lapwai Creek; the Clearwater River; the Columbia River basin; storage at Waha Lake and Soldiers Meadow Reservoir; and the Sweetwater and Webb Creek diversions. It also references Reservoir A, Soldiers Meadow Reservoir, and Lake Waha in relation to management agreements.
Which agencies or organizations are mentioned as coordination partners?
The notice mentions coordination with the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), NOAA, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (in the context of recreation and fishing arrangements).
What environmental or regulatory driver is explicitly cited?
The notice explicitly references harm to ESA-listed Snake River steelhead and discusses improving watershed conditions and reducing impacts on steelhead by protecting surface water instream. It also references ESA compliance as a factor considered in prior planning.
Is this funding for building the wells and substation, or for project leadership and coordination?
The listing characterizes the grant as supporting the Tribe as a key technical and coordination lead for the next phase. The described duties focus on technical contact and coordination, agreements, permitting navigation, operating plan development, exchange calculations, and water-rights arrangements, rather than directly describing the grant as construction funding.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is BOR PN 17 N018, and the CFDA number is 15.519.
What is the activity category and award instrument type?
The activity category is Natural Resources, and the instrument type is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The award ceiling listed in the opportunity is $160,000.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date is listed as September 19, 2017.
Does the notice state whether Reclamation will be substantially involved in this award?
Yes. The notice states there is no anticipated involvement from Reclamation for this award, even though the broader project context references Reclamation’s objectives and past collaboration with LOID.
What is the timeline milestone mentioned for annual planning?
The opportunity describes a planning milestone of April 1 each year for interim annual operating plans.
What is the role of modeling and analysis under this grant?
Modeling and analysis are referenced as part of developing interim annual operating plans to characterize each water year and anticipate how operations will meet flow needs as additional wells become available.
What does the opportunity say about title transfers?
One of the listed coordination duties includes assisting with developing legislation and partnerships needed for title transfers.
What does the opportunity say about permitting needs?
During construction, the Tribe is expected to help LOID navigate permitting and requirements across city, county, state, and federal levels.
What does the opportunity say about land acquisition?
During construction, the Tribe would assist LOID with potential land acquisition for wells, pipelines, and related facilities.
What does the opportunity say about electrical service?
The notice identifies securing electrical service and a power substation for the well field as part of the work in the new phase, with the Tribe supporting efforts to secure service and the substation.
What does the opportunity say about recreation and fishing management agreements?
The Tribe would support development of management agreements that include recreation and fishing arrangements for Reservoir A, Soldiers Meadow Reservoir, and Lake Waha, coordinating with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
What does the opportunity say about setting bypass flows?
The Tribe would coordinate with LOID, NOAA, and Reclamation to set annual bypass flows at the Sweetwater and Webb Creek diversions and develop an allocation plan for available water between those creeks.
What water rights outcome is the grant intended to help achieve?
The Tribe would help develop an agreement to define how LOP water rights would transfer from Reclamation to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in trust for the contractor, with the intent of enabling permanent protection of the water right consistent with the water exchange and intended benefits to the Nez Perce Tribe and its members.
How is the Lewiston Orchards Project connected to tribal interests?
The notice states that much of the project infrastructure sits on the Nez Perce Tribe Reservation and that the current system has created conflicts with tribal cultural and natural resource interests. The grant targets tribal technical and coordination leadership to support the next phase of work.
How is fish protection connected to the broader effort described?
The notice links the surface-water diversion approach to harm to ESA-listed Snake River steelhead and describes protecting exchanged surface water instream to improve watershed conditions and reduce impacts on steelhead.
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