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Proposition 1 – Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Program

Grantor:
Department of Water Resources
Portal ID:
1089
Status:
Closed (12 total applications submitted)
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The IRWM Grant Program is designed to encourage integrated regional strategies for water resource management in California by providing funding for projects and programs throughout the state including climate change adaptation, providing incentives for collaboration and setting priorities in water resource and infrastructure management, and improving regional water self-reliance while reducing reliance on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Description:

Grant applications are submitted by an eligible IRWM Region representative (applicant) and an application may have multiple projects from Local Project Sponsors (LPS). To be part of the application and access grant funding through their relationship with the applicant, LPS must meet eligibility requirements specified in the 2019 IRWM Grant Program Guidelines. Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The State’s 48 IRWM regions cover almost 90% of the State’s area and 99% of its population. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list. Each LPS of a project included in an IRWM Implementation proposal must adopt the IRWM Plan. Each individual agency proposing a project(s) must adopt the IRWM Plan. Regional Water Management Groups will not be allowed to adopt an IRWM Plan on behalf of their member agencies. Subject to regional priorities, projects may include, but are not limited to, the following: Water reuse and recycling; Water-use efficiency and water conservation; Local and regional surface and underground water storage, including groundwater aquifer cleanup or recharge projects; Regional water conveyance facilities that improve integration of separate water systems; Watershed protection, restoration, and management projects, including projects that reduce the risk of wildfire or improve water supply reliability; Stormwater resource and flood management; Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater storage facilities; Water desalination projects; Decision support tools to model regional water management strategies to account for climate change and other changes in regional demand and supply projections; Improvement of water quality, including drinking water, groundwater, wastewater treatment, water pollution prevention, and management of urban and agricultural runoff; Regional projects or programs as defined by the IRWM Planning Act (Water Code §10537). Proposition 1 authorized $510 million for DWR to award IRWM grants, with specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California. Of the $510 million, $25.5 million (5%) is designated for DWR’s grant administration costs, $15.3 million (3%) is designated for DWR’s planning and monitoring costs, and $10.2 million (2%) is designated for other State costs (issuance of bonds). Previously awarded funds include $4.2 million for IRWM Planning Grants and $51.7 million for DAC Involvement Grants. At least 10% of authorized funds ($51 million) will be reserved for projects that directly benefit Disadvantaged Communities, with the minimum 10% requirement applied to each Funding Area. DWR plans to administer multiple rounds of solicitations for Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grants. The Round 1 Implementation Grant solicitation will award approximately $212 million in grant funds. The Round 2 Proposal Solicitation process to award the remaining funds (approximately $191 million) is scheduled for late 2021.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

An eligible applicant will submit an application on behalf of a specific IRWM region(s). No more than one application will be accepted per IRWM region; however, application(s) may be submitted on behalf of multiple IRWM regions within a Funding Area.

Eligible Geographies:

Projects must be included in an adopted IRWM Plan that is consistent with the 2016 IRWM plan standards. The applicant must demonstrate that the project is listed in the IRWM Plan project list.

Matching Funding Requirement:

The 50% matching fund requirement does not apply to Disadvantaged Communities with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income. Other state fund sources cannot be used for the 50% funding match requirement.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
July 15, 2020
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
4 years

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$222,000,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
12
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
Yes ( see Description for details )
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
50%
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

This grant solicitation is Round 1 of a planned two rounds of funding. 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. Specified allocations to 12 Funding Areas in California (Water Code §79744). Round 1 allocated $222 million. The remainder will be available in the summer of 2021.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Funds are disbursed to the 12 State Funding Areas as follows: Central Coast $43 million, Sacramento River $37 million, San Francisco $65 million, Los Angeles $98 million, Mountain Counties $13 million, North Coast $26.5 million, San Joaquin River $31 million, Santa Ana $63 million, Tulare Lake $34 million, Colorado River $22.5 million, Lahontan $24.5 million, San Diego $52.5 million.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
1-916-653-0975, dwr_irwm@water.ca.gov

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