Grants and Loans

We offer a number of grant and loan programs that support integrated water management activities addressing environmental stewardship, water supply reliability, public safety, and economic stability. Public agencies are eligible for most of our grant and loan programs, but other applicants may also be eligible, depending upon the program. Our latest grant program announcements are found below, followed by additional grant program details.

$14 Million Awarded in Grant Funding for Water Desalination Projects

DWR announced more than $14 million in grant funding for projects that increase water quality, supply, and infrastructure in California communities.

Published: June 18, 2019

DWR-Funded Restoration Project in Oakland Improves Water Quality, Fish Habitat

Local agencies, State government representatives, and community members came together May 11 to celebrate the completion of the Upper Sausal Creek Erosion Control Restoration Project, a collaborative effort that provides improvements to the community of Oakland and local fish habitats.

Published: May 31, 2019

Public Comment Period Opens for Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program

The California Department of Water Resources announced the opening of the 45-day public comment period for the Draft Proposition 68 2019 Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program Guidelines and the Planning – Round 3 Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP).

Published: May 03, 2019

Grants and Loans

Environmental Restoration

Delta Levees Special Flood Control Projects

This program works directly with local agencies to provide critical financial assistance for flood protection in the Delta by providing funding to safeguard public benefits from flood hazards. Those public benefits include roads, utilities, urbanized areas, water quality, recreation, navigation, and fish and wildlife.

Flood Corridor Program

This program provides grant funding to proponents of nonstructural flood management projects throughout the state that includes wildlife habitat enhancement and/or agricultural land preservation.

Riverine Stewardship Program – Grants

This program provides technical and financial assistance to support the planning and implementation of watershed-based riverine and riparian improvements that help reduce flood-risk, restore and enhance fish populations and their habitat, and improves air quality, among other environmental benefits. The program coordinates implementation of the Urban Streams Restoration Program and the San Joaquin Fish Population Enhancement Program.

Urban Streams Restoration Program

This program provides grants to local communities for projects that reduce flooding, erosion, and associated property damage; restore, enhance, and/or protect the natural ecological values of streams; or promote community involvement, education, and stewardship. It has helped fund more than 270 grants ranging from $1,000 to $1 million to communities throughout California.

Coastal Watershed Flood Risk Reduction Program

The Coastal Watershed Flood Risk Reduction Grant Program will fund projects in coastal areas that focus on multi-benefit flood risk reduction.

Central Valley Tributaries Program

This program will fund multi-benefit flood risk reduction projects that (1) address flood risk for urban communities, small communities and/or rural areas; and (2) enhance ecosystems by improving fish and wildlife habitat and water quality downstream.

Delta Levees Maintenance Subventions

This program provides funding on a cost share basis to local levee maintaining agencies for rehabilitation and maintenance of levees in the Delta.

Delta Levees Special Flood Control Projects

This program works directly with local agencies to provide critical financial assistance for flood protection in the Delta by providing funding to safeguard public benefits from flood hazards. Public benefits include roads, utilities, urbanized areas, water quality, recreation, navigation, and fish and wildlife.

Flood Corridor Program

This program provides grant funding to proponents of nonstructural flood management projects throughout the state that include wildlife habitat enhancement and/or agricultural land preservation.

Flood Control Subventions Program

This program provides financial assistance to local agencies cooperating in the construction of federally authorized flood control projects.

Flood Emergency Response Projects Grants Program

Since 2012, we've provided $20 million through 3 different types of Flood Emergency Response grants to improve local flood emergency response and contribute to increased public safety.

Local Levee Assistance Program

This program provides financial assistance to local public agencies responsible for flood management outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This assistance helped local agencies obtain the information needed to repair damaged levees and restore or maintain levee accreditation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Small Communities Flood Risk Reduction Program

This is a local assistance program works to reduce flood risk for small communities protected by State Plan of Flood Control facilities.

Urban Flood Risk Reduction

This program works to improve flood protection for urban areas associated with State Plan of Flood Control. Specifically, the program seeks to increase flood protection, provide ecosystem restoration and improvement, protect farmland, and improve operation and maintenance of State Plan of Flood Control facilities.

Groundwater

Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program

This program funds projects that develop and implement sustainable groundwater planning and projects.

Integrated Regional Water Management

Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Programs

Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) is a collaborative effort to manage all aspects of water resources in a region. Our IRWM grant programs fund planning, implementation, and disadvantaged community involvement.

Water Quality or Drinking Water

Proposition 84 Delta Water Quality Program

This program provides $90 million in grants to implement Delta water quality improvement projects that protect drinking water supplies and facilities.

Proposition 204 Drainage Reuse Grant Program

This program encourages development of methods of using subsurface drainage, reducing its toxic elements, and concentrating, separating and utilizing its salts.

San Joaquin River Water Quality Grant Program - Proposition 84

This program supports projects that will result in direct, measurable water quality improvements to the San Joaquin River by reducing or eliminating discharges of subsurface agricultural drainage.

Water Supply or Management

Delta Levees Special Flood Control Projects

This program works directly with local agencies to provide critical financial assistance for flood protection in the Delta by providing funding to safeguard public benefits from flood hazards. Public benefits include roads, utilities, urbanized areas, water quality, recreation, navigation, and fish and wildlife.

Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program

This program funds projects that develop and implement sustainable groundwater planning and projects.

Water Desalination Grant Program

This program supports the planning and development of potable water for municipal uses to meet the water resources needs of the state by providing project grants for the treatment of naturally occurring saline water: brackish water and seawater. Eligible applicants will utilize the continuous application process to submit their proposals. Selected projects are awarded on a first-ready, first-awarded basis until all grant funds are exhausted.

Water Use Efficiency

Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Grants Program - Proposition 1

This program helps urban and agricultural communities cope with water shortages and drought conditions through the implementation of water use efficiency projects.

Agricultural Water Use Efficiency's DWR/CDFA Joint Request for Proposal (RFP)

This joint program highlights the benefits of efficiency and conservation, awarding $3 million from Proposition 1 to projects that address water use efficiency and reduction, greenhouse gas emission reductions, groundwater protection, and sustainability of agricultural operations and food production.

Calconserve Water Use Efficiency Loan Program

This program offers $10 million in loans to local agencies for specific types of water conservation and water use efficiency projects and programs that seek to achieve urban water use targets. Loans are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.