The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the Final 2020 Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package for the Drainage Reuse Grant Program.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program
The Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM) Grant Program provides funding for sustainable groundwater planning and implementation projects through a competitive grant solicitation process. Projects may include the development and implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) and those that provide investments in groundwater recharge with surface water, stormwater, recycled water, the prevention of groundwater contamination.
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.
Current Grant Solicitation
On September 9, 2019, DWR opened the SGM Grant Program’s Planning Grant – Round 3 grant solicitation to make approximately $47 million available for competitive grants. The Planning – Round 3 grant solicitation closed on November 11, 2019.
- DWR released the draft grant awards list on January 24, 2020. These funding recommendations were subject to public review for 15 days. The public comment period ended on February 10, 2020. The draft grant awards list was split into two tables: Table 1 listed those applications that DWR recommended for awards with no extra conditions.
- Table 2 listed those applications with extra conditions. Those applicants whose Projects were listed in Table 2 were required to submit the needed information by February 14, 2020.
DWR is pleased to announce the Proposition 68 Planning – Round 3 final funding list. DWR awarded approximately $47 million in grant funding to 53 applicants to support the development and implementation of GSPs. Funding for these awards was provided by Proposition 68, from which $46.25 million was made available for competitive grants, and an addition $1.2 million of Proposition 1 funds. An additional approximately $1.6 million in Proposition 1 funds is being recommended conditioned upon future reappropriation of grant funds available in Fiscal Year 2021/2022. The earliest those funds could be available to the grantees is July 1, 2021. By the combination of currently available Proposition 1 and 68 funds and the conditional future Proposition 1 funds, DWR was able to award all grant applicants.
The Proposition 68 SGM Implementation Grant solicitation is anticipated to open in early 2022. At least $88 million will be available for competitive grants for projects that address drought and groundwater investments. More details to come.
Funding Sources
The SGM Grant Program is funded by Proposition 68 and Proposition 1. Additional information can found below.Proposition 1, Chapter 10: Groundwater Sustainability
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.
Proposition 68, Chapter 11.6: Regional Sustainability for Drought and Groundwater, and Water Recycling
On June 5, 2018, California voters approved Proposition 68, which amended the Water Code to add, among other articles, §80146, authorizing the Legislature to appropriate funds for competitive grants for proposals that:
- Develop and implement groundwater plans and projects in accordance with groundwater planning requirements.
- Address drought and groundwater investments to achieve regional sustainability for investments in groundwater recharge with surface water, stormwater, recycled water, and other conjunctive use projects, and projects to prevent or cleanup contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water.
| Program Schedule and Key Dates | |
|---|---|
| Milestone or Activity | Tentative Schedule |
| Planning Grant | |
| Round 3 Solicitation Period (Open Date and Close Date) | September 9, 2019 - November 15, 2019 |
| Eligibility/Completeness Review | November 18, 2019 - November 22, 2019 |
| Technical Reviews of Grant Applications | November 25, 2019 - January 10, 2020 |
| Release Draft Funding List for Public Review | January 27, 2020 - February 11, 2020 |
| Final Award List Released | March 2020 |
| Implementation Grant | |
| Release Draft PSP | Early 2021 |
| Release Final Implementation Grant PSP and Open Grant Solicitation | Mid-to Late 2021 |
| Implementation Grant Solicitation Closes | Late 2021 |
| Implementation Grant Award List, Award Letters Released | Early 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.
- Final Awards | Table and Map
- Proposition 1 2015 Guidelines
- Proposition 1 Planning Grant Solicitation PSP
Proposition 1, Round 2, Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program
In 2017, DWR received 78 applications requesting $86.3 million in grant funding and approximately $64 million in local cost share. DWR awarded 78 grants for a total of $85.8 in Proposition 1 funding. On April 4, 2018, DWR announced the final award to 78 grant applicants totaling $85.8 million for the SGWP Grant Program Solicitation. Information regarding the final awards can be found at the following links:
Grant Updates
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released Draft Recommended Funding Lists for four funding areas for the Proposition 1 Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Solicitation. Approximately $61 million in grant funding is being made available for implementation projects with approximately $19 million ...
Published:
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today awarded $47 million in grant funding to 53 applicants to support local agencies in development of plans to manage groundwater basins for long-term sustainability.
Published:
Resources
- DWR’s Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation
- State Water Resources Control Board’s Groundwater Sustainability Funding
- DWR Requests Comments on Flood-MAR Research and Data Development Framework
- Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Mapping Tool
- Economically Distressed Area (EDA) Mapping Tool
- Water Management Planning Tool
Related Pages
- NOI to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the 2017 Storm Damage Rehabilitation Site 80: Deer Creek Levee Erosion Repair Project
- DWR Requests Comments on Flood-MAR Research and Data Development Framework
- Visit DWR’s Water-wise Landscaping Exhibit at the California State Fair
- ACWA 2019 Spring Conference and Exhibition
- ‘Extreme Weather’ Focus of DWR Climate Change Summit
- Researchers Test New Approach to Improve Fish Habitat in Suisun Marsh
- Flood-MAR: Harnessing Flood Waters to Advance Sustainable Water Management
- Final Flood-MAR White Paper Recognizes State’s Role in Emerging Water Management Strategy
- DWR Commits to Greater Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
- Clean Energy
Contact Us
Kelley List, PG
(916) 651-9222
Zaffar Eusuff, PE, PhD
(916) 651-9266