Implementation Grant Program

Pie Chart: Overall Funding Breakdown

The IRWM Implementation Grant Program provides funding for implementation projects that meet the intent of Proposition 1, Chapter 7. Proposition 1 authorized $510 million for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to award IRWM grants, with specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California (Water Code §79744). The Pie-Chart to the right shows the split of $510 million.

Round 2 Grant Solicitation

In May 2022, DWR issued the final 2022 IRWM Grant Program Guidelines and the Round 2 Implementation Grant Proposal Solicitation Package, making approximately $201 million available and initiating the solicitation process.

Round 2 consists of two application deadlines: Cycle 1 applications were due August 19, 2022, and Cycle 2 applications were due March 24, 2023. 

Round 2 Cycle 2 Grant Awards 

In Round 2 Cycle 2, DWR has awarded $143.7 million to 23 IRWM Regions from ten Funding Areas. This award concludes the Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grant Program. See the Summary Final Funding Recommendations and Detailed Final Funding Recommendations linked below: 

•  Central Coast
•  Colorado River
•  Lahontan
•  Los Angeles
•  Mountain Counties
•  North Coast
•  Sacramento River
•  San Diego
•  San Francisco Bay Area
•  Santa Ana 

For more information on new solicitations and other IRWM grant-related announcements, subscribe to the IRWM Grants mailing list and visit the Implementation Grant Program page.

Round 2 Cycle 1 Grant Awards 

In Round 2 Cycle 1, DWR awarded $57.13 million to 16 IRWM Regions from seven Funding Areas. See the Summary Final Funding Recommendations and Detailed Final Funding Recommendations linked below: 

• Central Coast
• 
Colorado River
• 
Lahontan
• 
Mountain Counties
• 
San Diego
• 
San Joaquin River

• Tulare-Kern

Round 1 Grant Solicitation 

On April 22, 2019, DWR released the Final Proposition 1 - Round 1 IRWM Implementation Grant Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) and Final 2019 Guidelines (Guidelines). This solicitation made approximately $222 million available.

In 2020, DWR awarded $211 million to 42 IRWM Regions in the Round 1 funding for implementation projects including approximately $25 million for disadvantaged community projects.

Guidelines & Proposal Solicitation Package

The documents below will provide potential grant applicants with an overview of the program and detailed requirements for this solicitation.

How to Contact Us

Find general contact information in the directory, or select the button below for IRWM, including regional and grant contacts.

Contact Division

Newsletters & Subscriptions

Subscribe to the IRWM Grants mailing list for new solicitations, document releases, upcoming workshops, and other IRWM grant-related announcements.

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Grant Updates

Image of new DWR-funded water tank at fire station in Bootjack (Mariposa County).

With temperatures rising and climate change increasing drought conditions in California, a project funded by DWR provided critical fire-fighting support to the Mariposa community by strengthening local water supply infrastructure as they battled one of the largest wildfires of 2022.

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Image of the Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, California, which helps improve water reliability and resiliency for the City during the drought years.

As California faces a hotter, drier future and ongoing extreme drought conditions, DWR is offering $6 million in financial assistance to support desalination projects that will help develop new sources of local water supplies in California.

Published:
Grant Funding Recipient Locations Phase 8.

As part of ongoing efforts to help small communities address water supply challenges amid extreme drought and build water resilience for the future, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its eighth round of funding through the Small Community Drought Relief Program.

Published:
Grant Funding Recipient Locations Phase 7

DWR is providing critical financial support to four urgent projects in Humboldt, Los Angeles, Modoc, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties through the Small Community Drought Relief Program. In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, DWR has awarded $2 million in funding to support four identified projects that will improve drought resil ...

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