Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program

The SGM Grant Program is managed by the Division of Regional Assistance in the Department of Water Resources (DWR). We work in consultation with DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Office (SGMO), which oversees implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California.

Our Mission

The mission of the SGM Grant Program is to provide funding to Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and other responsible entities under SGMA to promote healthy and sustainable groundwater basins, to reduce and eliminate undesirable effects, and to promote projects that provide multiple benefits while also improving groundwater supply and quality.

Our Vision

The vision of the SGM Grant Program is to achieve sustainable water balance in California, where GSAs and other responsible entities work cooperatively and innovatively to manage surface and groundwater together in a holistic and integrated manner.

We conduct the following activities to achieve the mission and vision of the SGM Grant Program:

• fund the development and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) or an approved Alternative to a GSP
• fund projects that promote the sustainable use of groundwater
• educate the public on groundwater sources and uses, and ways to sustainably manage and protect it
• provide technical assistance for Underrepresented Communities to identify their risks and needs with respect to SGMA compliance
• research and disseminate information on sustainable groundwater best management practices
• partner with other State agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties to ensure that public funds are expended on activities and tasks that best suits the groundwater needs in California

As stewards of the public investment, DWR’s role is to verify public funds are being used in the most appropriate manner in accordance with the applicable propositions and General Obligation Bond law, State Budget acts and Executive proclamations, and the funding documents we develop to solicit applications and deliver the funds in compliance with such directives.

Current Solicitation Information

The Budget Act of 2021 (through Senate Bill 170) provided $180 million in General Funds for SGMA Implementation projects.  Of the $180 million in General Funds, $171 million was available for grant awards after program administration costs.  In addition, the Budget Act of 2021 allocated $60 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/2023 and $60 million in FY 2023/2024.  In July 2022, DWR received the $60 million from the Budget Act of 2022 of which $47 million is available for award after administration costs and a $10 million reservation for small farmer technical assistance. A trailer bill (Assembly Bill 211) provided an additional $56 million in General Funds. Of the $56 million, approximately $47 million is available after administration costs and added funds for the URC TA Program. The remaining $60 million ($57 million after administration costs) is subject to Legislature approval for FY 2023/2024.

Assembly Bill 179 of the Budget Act of 2022 required a minimum of $10 million of the grant funds used towards small farmer technical assistance, which also provided DWR with the authority to award grants or contracts in a non-competitive manner. The 2021 SGMA Implementation Guidelines were amended to add the Budget Act of 2022 information and added the small farmer technical assistance to the original $2 million in URC TA Program funds. The amended 2021 Guidelines, in track changes, were posted on our website and emailed to our subscribers on March 13, 2023. The amended 2021 Guidelines are open for public comment until 5:00 PM on March 23, 2023. Please submit comments to sgwp@water.ca.gov.

SGM Implementation, Round 2 solicitation opened October 4, 2022, for eligible applicants located within eligible high and medium priority groundwater basins, including critically overdrafted basins. The solicitation closed on December 16, 2022. DWR received 82 applications requesting over $780 million in grant funds.  DWR is currently in the process of reviewing and scoring applications.  Round 2 will provide over $200 million from the General Fund and Proposition 68. The exact amount available is dependent upon legislative approval for the 2023/2024 State Budget Act and is subject to change. Any remaining funds after Round 2 will be distributed through future funding solicitations.

 

An application workshop was on October 20, 2022. View a recording of workshop.  Also available are workshop FAQ (updated 11/30/22) and workshop presentation.

 

In addition to these funding solicitations, DWR is providing an addition $16 million in General Funds to the existing Underrepresented Community Technical Assistance Program (URC TA Program) to help identify the needs, risks and vulnerabilities of these communities with respect to SGMA implementation. The URC TA Program started in mid-2021 using $2.5 million in Proposition 68 funds. More information can be found in the “Underrepresented Communities” tab below.

More information on the SGMA Implementation eligible applicant(s), eligible activities/tasks, and eligible groundwater basins are found within the 2021 Guidelines and PSP.

SGM Grant Program’s SGMA Implementation Guidelines - Final

SGM Grant Program’s SGMA Implementation Proposal Solicitation Package - Final

PLEASE NOTE:
This is a dynamic program and changes are occurring often. More information will be provided as it becomes available. We recommend checking this website frequently for any updates.

 

• Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Mapping Tool
• Economically Distressed Area (EDA) Mapping Tool
• CalEnviroScreen
• DWR Drought