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Proposition 1 – Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Program

Department of Water Resources · 1089

Eligibility details

An eligible applicant will submit an application on behalf of a specific IRWM region(s). No more than one application will be accepted per IRWM region; however, application(s) may be submitted on behalf of multiple IRWM regions within a Funding Area.

Matching funds & resources

Source matching-funds field: 50%. The 50% matching fund requirement does not apply to Disadvantaged Communities with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income. Other state fund sources cannot be used for the 50% funding match requirement.

Matching funds and leveraged resources are different requirements. Read the description and reviewed rules below before determining resource commitments.

About this opportunity

Grant applications are submitted by an eligible IRWM Region representative (applicant) and an application may have multiple projects from Local Project Sponsors (LPS). To be part of the application and access grant funding through their relationship with the applicant, LPS must meet eligibility requirements specified in the 2019 IRWM Grant Program Guidelines. Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The State’s 48 IRWM regions cover almost 90% of the State’s area and 99% of its population. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list. Each LPS of a project included in an IRWM Implementation proposal must adopt the IRWM Plan. Each individual agency proposing a project(s) must adopt the IRWM Plan. Regional Water Management Groups will not be allowed to adopt an IRWM Plan on behalf of their member agencies. Subject to regional priorities, projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: Water reuse and recycling; Water-use efficiency and water conservation; Local and regional surface and underground water storage, including groundwater aquifer cleanup or recharge projects; Regional water conveyance facilities that improve integration of separate water systems; Watershed protection, restoration, and management projects, including projects that reduce the risk of wildfire or improve water supply reliability; Stormwater resource and flood management; Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater storage facilities; Water desalination projects; Decision support tools to model regional water management strategies to account for climate change and other changes in regional demand and supply projections; Improvement of water quality, including drinking water, groundwater, wastewater treatment, water pollution prevention, and management of urban and agricultural runoff; Regional projects or programs as defined by the IRWM Planning Act (Water Code §10537). Proposition 1 authorized $510 million for DWR to award IRWM grants, with specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California. Of the $510 million, $25.5 million (5%) is designated for DWR’s grant administration costs, $15.3 million (3%) is designated for DWR’s planning and monitoring costs, and $10.2 million (2%) is designated for other State costs (issuance of bonds). Previously awarded funds include $4.2 million for IRWM Planning Grants and $51.7 million for DAC Involvement Grants. At least 10% of authorized funds ($51 million) will be reserved for projects that directly benefit Disadvantaged Communities, with the minimum 10% requirement applied to each Funding Area. DWR plans to administer multiple rounds of solicitations for Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grants. The Round 1 Implementation Grant solicitation will award approximately $212 million in grant funds. The Round 2 Proposal Solicitation process to award the remaining funds (approximately $191 million) is scheduled for late 2021.

Funding geography: Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list.

Funding instrument: Grant. Issuing jurisdiction: California. This is not a geographic eligibility determination.