Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2022-36:  A resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation for a WaterSMART Drought Response Program Federal Grant beginning Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and authorizing the acceptance of any resulting grant award. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. 

The Western United States is experiencing its worst drought this century. The WaterSMART Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing financial assistance to implement projects that will build long-term resilience to drought (Drought Resiliency Projects).

City of Flagstaff Water Services proposes to construct a recharge and recovery project to build drought resiliency and mitigate a drought or drought-induced Water Emergency as defined in Flagstaff City Code and covered in the City's Water Policies (2014). The City of Flagstaff is requesting U.S. Bureau of Reclamation funding in the amount of $4,225,551 or 50 percent of federal cost share for the completion of $8,589,440 of design, permitting, environmental compliance and construction that will be completed by December 2025.

The total project estimate is $8,586,440 with an anticipated 50/50 federal grant match.  The Flagstaff Water Services 2022-2023 Capital Improvement Plan, which is part of the FY23 City-wide Budget, was adopted by City Council on June 14, 2022. The Capital Improvement Plan allocates funding for a new well and pumphouse (well site equipment) in the amount of $3.75 million across fiscal years 2023 through 2025. Should we be awarded the grant, future budget adoptions will include the total project cost and grant revenue. 

The activities proposed in the grant application have a direct positive impact towards the following City Council adopted Water Policies (2014): B1 on use of renewable resources, C6 on aquifer recharge and recovery, D7 on drought planning, F1 on water system capacity redundancy.

Water Resources WR.1.Carbon Neutrality Plan
Community Resilience CR-1 & CR-2
Equitable Systems ES-1

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
Environmental Stewardship
Sustainable, Innovative Infrastructure

Regional Plan
Water Resources WR.1.1
Water Resources WR2.1
Water Resources WR3.3

City Council provided majority support for submittal of the application at the June 14, 2022 meeting. City of Flagstaff Water Commission voted 5-1 in favor of submitting the application at the May 19, 2022 Commission meeting.