Implementation Grant Program

The IRWM Implementation Grant Program provides funding for implementation projects that meet the intent of Proposition 1, Chapter 7. 

Approximately $403 million in grant funding is being made available for implementation projects with at least $51 million being made available for projects that provide benefits to Disadvantaged Communities. DWR is awarding grants on a competitive basis in two funding rounds.  To apply for grants through this program, project proponents must coordinate through their established IRWM Regional Water Management Group, and the Regional Group must in turn coordinate with other groups within the Proposition 1 IRWM Funding Area. 

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 $193 million available and initiating the solicitation process. Below is a Table showing available funds in Round 2.  However, the amount of available funds may change based on the amendments to Round 1 Grant Agreements. This Table will be updated if any of the amounts change.

Table: Available Funds in Round 2 

*Competitive Funding Area: defined as an area where IRWM Regions have not agreed to cooperatively split the allocation. All other Funding Areas are characterized as ”Cooperative” as they do the following: 1) Provide a funding split agreement assuring that the total funding request by the IRWM Regions within the Funding Area would not exceed the available funding allocation to the Funding Area as indicated in the Table above, and 2) Submit documentation verifying that projects included in the application were vetted and selected via a local competitive process that conforms to the requirements of Proposition 1 for project selection process.  

This solicitation consists of two application deadlines: Cycle 1 applications were due August 19, 2022, and Cycle 2 applications are due February 1, 2023. 

Funding Award Recommendations for Round 2 Cycle 1 

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released Funding Award recommendations for Round 2, Cycle 1 of the Proposition 1 Implementation Grant Program as presented below:

Final Funding Recommendations: 

DWR announced Final Funding recommendations totaling $42.65 million to 13 IRWM Regions from six “Cooperative 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

Draft Funding Recommendations: Tulare-Kern Funding Area

DWR announced Draft Funding Recommendations totaling $14.5 million to 3 IRWM Regions in the Tulare-Kern Funding Area for a 15-day public comment period, which will close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.  

How to submit comments on the Draft Funding recommendations: 
Public comments on the “Draft Funding Recommendations” can be submitted by one of the following methods:

1. Electronic Mail
Comments should be sent to dwr_irwm@water.ca.gov. Electronic files should be Microsoft Word compatible or PDF. 

2. Hard Copy via U.S. Mail
California Department of Water Resources
Division of Regional Assistance
Financial Assistance Branch
Post Office Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236
Attention: Desiree Ramirez

3. Hard Copy via Hand Delivery
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Attention: Desiree Ramirez

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 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.