The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is now accepting Invasive Species Mitigation Weed Control Grant Applications for the 2026-27 season. The goal of this program is to allocate funds to projects which have management strategies with a high degree of potential success in the State of Utah.
Eligible Activities:
- Early detection and rapid response
- Control and containment of state listed noxious weeds
- Treating critical acres that protect larger land use areas
- Monitoring and preventing the spread of small populations and new introductions
- Monitoring established infestations
- Restoration and rehabilitation of land impacted by noxious weeds
- Research related to invasive species
Utah SIIPA Project Model Requirement:
Your project will require a Utah SIIPA project model as part of a successful application submission. Your SIIPA project model will produce a geodatabase file, SIIPA project Map, and a SIIPA project report. All three of these elements will be needed to complete your application.
EDDMapS & Utah SIIPA Information:
- You will need to create an EDDMapS account before using the Utah SIIPA project modeling tool. You must be added to the Utah SIIPA to gain access
- You will need to send an email to aeagar@utah.gov requesting access to the Utah SIIPA and provide your EDDMapS user ID in the email. You will receive a conformation email notifying you that access has been granted.
- You can access the Utah SIIPA modeling tool from https://ag.utah.gov/unwd/ and click on access from the bottom center image. You will log in with your EDDMapS login and password.
Technical Questions?
For technical questions on EDDMapS or the Utah SIIPA modeling tool, please contact Aaron Eagar at aeagar@utah.gov or (801) 602-1961
Ranking Criteria:
Your project will be ranked based on these categories:
SIIPA Analysis: Early Detection Rapid Response, Project Management, Rehabilitation and Treatment, Wildfire Risk and Threat, Economic Benefit, Wildlife Impact, Water: Quality, Assessment and Use,
Reviewers Analysis: Cost per acre of the proposed project. Chemical profiles in relation to species and treatment timing. Partnerships and overall total contributions to the project.
Utah Open Records Law
If awarded: your application, project reports & inspection, and subsequent annual reporting may be subject to public disclosure. The Government Records Access and Management Act (“GRAMA”), Utah Code Section 63G-2-101 et seq., is Utah’s open records law and the state equivalent of the federal Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”). Through GRAMA, the public may request access to certain records maintained by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
For more information on Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s procedures and policies for requests for state records, it may be helpful to review Utah Department of Agriculture & Food's Policy.
UtahID & Submittable Information
- You will need to create a UtahID account before creating and using a Submittable account. You must be signed into your UtahID account each time you use Submittable.
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.
- We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
Technical Questions?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support, or UtahID Help Desk.
Welcome to the FY 2026 application for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Water Optimization Grant. This grant is for individuals or their businesses on-farm water efficiency projects and for water management organizations like Irrigation, Canal, or Ditch companies for water conveyance efficiency projects.
Check on our website for a list of Program Criteria, Ranking Matrixes, and Program Policy.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to reach out to your local Utah Department of Agriculture & Food (UDAF) Office and connect with a UDAF Planner who can help you fill out this application and be a point of contact for your project. You can add a UDAF Planner or other entity (such as an engineering firm you may be using, or other planning partner like an NRCS Planner) as an application COLLABORATOR, which gives them access to your application so they may help enter information and answer questions you may have. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD A COLLABORATOR.
Water Optimization Planner Contacts:
Cody Brklacich: 385-214-7261 or cbrklacich@utah.gov - Northern Utah (Box Elder, Cache, and Rich, Counties)
Duane Hudson: 385-395-6701 or dhouston@utah.gov - Uintah Basin (Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett Counties)
Tanner Mills: (385) 228-2710 or tmills@utah.gov - Eastern Utah (Carbon, Emery, Wayne, Garfield, Kane, Grand, and San Juan Counties)
Hayes Mills: (385) 228-8258 or hayesmills@utah.gov - Western & Southern Utah (Utah, Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties)
Brian Christensen: (435) 494-9760 or bchristensen2@utah.gov Northern Utah (Summit, Wasatch, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake, and Weber Counties)
If you have questions regarding this application, please Email the Water Optimization Staff at UDAF-WaterOptimization@utah.gov or visit our website for additional contact and program information.
For this funding period, we recommend you have the following information and documentation (if applicable) readily available before starting this application:
- REQUIRED for all organizational applicants: Your Company/Organization EIN (tax ID that matches your contracted W9 filing)
- REQUIRED for all applicants: The answers given as a result of your Division of Water Rights consultation (more information below)*
- If you are financially partnering with another individual or entity on this project, you are required to have a digital copy of your written agreement signed by both parties
*Following updated legislation, the Water Optimization Committee has required all applicants to consult with their local Department of Water Rights (DWRi) before completing this application. Applicants will need to answer a series of questions on this application that can only be given correctly after a consultation with DWRi. Please find the contact information for your local DWRi Office here.
Utah Open Records Law
If awarded: your application, project reports & inspection, and subsequent annual reporting may be subject to public disclosure. The Government Records Access and Management Act (“GRAMA”), Utah Code Section 63G-2-101 et seq., is Utah’s open records law and the state equivalent of the federal Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”). Through GRAMA, the public may request access to certain records maintained by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
For more information on Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s procedures and policies for requests for state records, it may be helpful to review Utah Department of Agriculture & Food's Policy.
UtahID & Submittable Information
- You will need to create a UtahID account before creating and using a Submittable account. You must be signed into your UtahID account each time you use Submittable.
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.
- We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
Technical Questions?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support, or UtahID Help Desk.
Welcome to the FY 2026 Water Optimization Application for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Water Optimization Grant. This grant is for individuals or their businesses on-farm water efficiency projects and for water management organizations like Irrigation, Canal, or Ditch companies for water conveyance efficiency projects.
Check on our website for a list of Program Criteria, Ranking Matrixes, and Program Policy.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to reach out to your local Utah Department of Agriculture & Food (UDAF) Office and connect with a UDAF Planner who can help you fill out this application and be a point of contact for your project. You can add a UDAF Planner or other entity (such as an engineering firm you may be using, or other planning partner like an NRCS Planner) as an application COLLABORATOR, which gives them access to your application so they may help enter information and answer questions you may have. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO ADD A COLLABORATOR.
Water Optimization Planner Contacts:
Cody Brklacich: 385-214-7261 or cbrklacich@utah.gov - Northern Utah (Box Elder, Cache, and Rich, Counties)
Duane Hudson: 385-395-6701 or dhouston@utah.gov - Uintah Basin (Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett Counties)
Tanner Mills: (385) 228-2710 or tmills@utah.gov - Eastern Utah (Carbon, Emery, Wayne, Garfield, Kane, Grand, and San Juan Counties)
Hayes Mills: (385) 228-8258 or hayesmills@utah.gov - Western & Southern Utah (Utah, Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Beaver, Iron, and Washington Counties)
Brian Christensen: (435) 494-9760 or bchristensen2@utah.gov Northern Utah (Summit, Wasatch, Morgan, Davis, Salt Lake, and Weber Counties)
If you have questions regarding this application, please Email the Water Optimization Staff at UDAF-WaterOptimization@utah.gov or visit our website for additional contact and program information.
For this funding period, we recommend you have the following information and documentation (if applicable) readily available before starting this application:
- REQUIRED for all applicants: The Company/Organization EIN (tax ID that matches your contracted W9 filing)
- REQUIRED for all applicants: The answers given as a result of your Division of Water Rights consultation (more information below)*
- REQUIRED for all applicants: Your most recent Water Loss Study information (more information below)**
- If you are financially partnering with another individual or entity on this project, you are required to have a digital copy of your written agreement signed by both parties
*Following updated legislation, the Water Optimization Committee has required all applicants to consult with their local Department of Water Rights (DWRi) before completing this application. Applicants will need to answer a series of questions on this application that can only be given correctly after a consultation with DWRi. Please find the contact information for your local DWRi Office here.
**The Water Optimization Committee has required all water conveyance system operators to have a Water Loss Study completed before applying for funding through this grant. The study is required to have the following components:
1) must be completed (or reviewed and signed) by an engineer or a hydrologist,
2) must include a map of the system,
3) must include a statement on current water seepage losses, and
4) must include a water measurement plan.
For Water Management Companies that DO NOT have a Water Loss Study in place, this grant can be used to apply for 50% funding to conduct a Water Loss Study. This Study can then be used to apply for this grant on upcoming projects in future funding periods.
Utah Open Records Law
If awarded: your application, project reports & inspection, and subsequent annual reporting may be subject to public disclosure. The Government Records Access and Management Act (“GRAMA”), Utah Code Section 63G-2-101 et seq., is Utah’s open records law and the state equivalent of the federal Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”). Through GRAMA, the public may request access to certain records maintained by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
For more information on Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s procedures and policies for requests for state records, it may be helpful to review Utah Department of Agriculture & Food's Policy.
UtahID & Submittable Information
- You will need to create a UtahID account before creating and using a Submittable account. You must be signed into your UtahID account each time you use Submittable.
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
- Submittable works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. Please make sure you are using a supported browser.
- We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
Technical Questions?
Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support, or UtahID Help Desk.
Application Materials
Please contact one of our Easement Planners with any questions or concerns while filling out your application. Please save your work often, you may return to your saved draft if needed.
Easement Planners:
Jan Kurecka - jkurecka@utah.gov, 385-285-2115
Michael Pleimling - michaelpleimling@utah.gov, 801-385-4567