The Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Grant Program provides funding for sustainable groundwater planning and implementation projects through a competitive grant solicitation process.
Then-Governor Jerry Brown signed into law in 2014 a three-bill legislative package collectively known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). It established for the first time in California history a framework for sustainable groundwater management. Subsequently, in May 2016 the SGMA Regulations were promulgated. This funding program is intended to provide financial assistance to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and others to comply with the SGMA Regulations. Funding is provided through Propositions 1 and 68 as described below. To date, DWR has awarded $139.5 million in three rounds of planning grants for development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and related projects. All Proposition 1 funds have been awarded, with about $103 million now remaining to be awarded using Proposition 68 funds.
DWR is conducting the first SGM Implementation Grant solicitation, providing a minimum of $103 million in Proposition 68 funds for competitive grants, in two rounds of grant solicitations, to fund implementation projects that:
(See Draft SGM Grant Program Proposition 68 Implementation Proposal Solicitation Package, page 11, for examples of eligible projects.)
The Round 1 grant solicitation will provide $26 million for critically overdrafted (COD) basins only. The future Round 2 grant solicitation will provide a minimum of $77 million for medium- and high-priority (including COD) basins. Please see the schedule provided below for the latest program dates.
DWR has developed a single Proposal Solicitation Package to cover both rounds of funding. The Guidelines for this program are not changing; those were previously published in September 2019.
On July 31, 2020, DWR announced a 45-day public Draft SGM Grant Program Proposition 68 Implementation Proposal Solicitation Package (Implementation PSP).
The public comment period will close at 5 p.m. on September 18, 2020. Following the review and consideration of public comments, DWR will release the final Implementation PSP and formally open the solicitation process to begin accepting grant applications for Round 1.
A public meeting will be held September 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., PDT to present the draft PSP and solicit comments. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, DWR will host the meeting as a GoTo Meeting webinar. The meeting will be recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the DWR website and emailed to subscribers of the SGM Grant Program’s email list (see option in the right panel of this webpage to subscribe) as soon as possible following the webinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email and instructions for joining the webinar.
The SGM Grant Program’s Implementation Grant Solicitation, Round 1 application assistance workshop will likely be scheduled for December 2020. At this time, it is anticipated that the workshop will be provided in a virtual format due to COVID-19 restrictions. More details will be provided on this website in coming months.
On November 4, 2014, California voters approved Proposition 1, which authorized $100 million be made available for competitive grants for projects that develop and implement groundwater plans and projects in accordance with groundwater planning requirements established under Division 6, commencing with §10000, Water Code §79775. DWR completed two grant solicitations for planning grants.
| Program Schedule and Key Dates | |
|---|---|
| Milestone or Activity | Tentative Schedule |
| Draft PSP 45-Day Public Comment Period |
July 31, 2020 - September 18, 2020 |
| Public Meeting via GoTo Meeting Webinar |
September 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., PDT |
| Final 2020 PSP posted to public |
November 2020 |
| Round 1 Grant Solicitation Opens |
November 16, 2020 |
| Round 1 Application Workshop |
December 2020 |
| Round 1 Grant Solicitation Closes |
January 2021 |
| Public Review of Round 1 Draft Funding List |
March 2021 |
| Round 1 Final Awards |
May 2021 |
| Round 2 Grants Solicitation Opens |
Springs 2022 |
| Public Review of Round 2 Draft Funding List |
Summer 2022 |
| Round 2 Final Awards |
Fall 2022 |
Proposition 1, Round 1, Counties with Stressed Basins Grants
In 2015, DWR received 23 applications requesting $7 million in grant funding. DWR awarded 21 grants for a total of $6.7 million in Proposition 1 grant funding and $5.8 million in local cost share.
In 2017, DWR received 78 applications requesting $86.3 million in grant funding and approximately $64 million in local cost share. On April 4, 2018, DWR announced the final award to 78 grant applicants totaling $85.8 million for the SGWP Grant Program Solicitation.
In 2019, DWR received 55 applications requesting $51.1 million in grant funding and approximately $11 in local cost share. In 2020, DWR awarded 53 grants for approximately $47 million in Proposition 68 funding for the SGWP Grant Program Solicitation. Information regarding the final awards can be found at the following links:
The most efficient way to contact us is to email your questions and comments to email SGWP@water.ca.gov. We check this mailbox each workday and your questions will be answered promptly. This also allows us to track and compile public feedback on our program.
Additionally, you may contact the Programmatic Project Manager:
Kelley List, PG
Jackson Cook
As part of an ongoing effort to address California’s critical water needs and build regional self-reliance in the face of a changing climate, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced nearly $37 million in grant awards for water resilience projects in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has re-opened the Continuous Application Process (CAP) for the Water Desalination Grant Program and is now accepting applications.