The Central California Agency administers Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Water Resources programs to support the necessary technical research, studies, and other information for Indian Tribes within its jurisdiction to serve as informed and prudent managers of adjudicated, decreed, or otherwise appurtenant water that affects Tribal or Indian trust lands including public domain allotments.
The Water Management, Planning, and Pre-Development program supports utilization of Reservation water resources. The program allows Tribes to perform technical studies and to develop other information necessary for Tribal communities to serve in a manner consistent with sound conservative economic principles that enhance the quality of life, environment, and economic conditions.
The Water Rights Negotiation and Litigation program is intended to provide technical consultation, and administrative cost support for Tribes engaged in the protection of Indian Water Rights. The BIA staff coordinates with the United States Department of Justice, the Department of Interior, Office of the Solicitor, and the Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office on actions taken in pursuit of litigation/ settlement resolution.
Funding Requests
The BIA Water Resources programs are administered through a competitive funding process listed and published in the “Notice of Revised Instructions for Preparing and Prioritizing Water Program Funding Requests” (Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 201, October 19, 2005).
The Central California Agency solicits funding requests annually from Tribes within its jurisdiction. Acceptance of project proposals and funding requests for FY 2025 ended on Friday August 30th, 2024.
For further information or technical assistance please contact your local BIA office. Tribes served by the Central California Agency may call (279) 444-0323.
