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.
Proposition 68 Current & Future Grant Solicitations
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:
- Address drought and groundwater challenges to achieve regional sustainability for investments in groundwater recharge projects with surface water, stormwater, recycled water, and other conjunctive use projects;
- Prevent or clean up contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water;
- Support water supply reliability, water conservation, and water use efficiency; and
- Support water banking, exchange, and reclamation.
(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.
Register Here
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.
Funding Sources
The SGM Grant Program is funded by Proposition 68 and Proposition 1. Additional information can found below.
