California Announces $83.9 Million in Grants for Local and Regional Water Resilience Projects

(UC) — The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has awarded $83.9 million in grants to communities in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Diego, Sierra and Central Coast regions for water infrastructure projects.

Provided through DWR’s Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program, these funds will support projects that address aging infrastructure, flood control, depleted groundwater levels and other critical needs in communities throughout the state.

“It is critical we continue to take action to ensure communities have access to clean water supplies, reliable flood protection and healthy ecosystems” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth.

Key projects awarded funding include:

  • National City, San Diego County — $3.7 million to divert stormwater runoff to a biofiltration basin where pollutants will be removed and will also replace old concrete lining in the creek with more fish-friendly natural streambank reinforcement.
  • Sewage Commission-Oroville Region – $3.8 million to replace and improve infrastructure for collecting, treating and reusing wastewater.
  • Merced Irrigation District – $1.32 million to reduce flood risk and provide more reliable drinking water supplies for the disadvantaged communities of Le Grand and other surrounding areas.
  • Central Coast Wetlands Group and City of Salinas – $1 million to make critical improvements to existing stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, enhancing the ability of these systems to capture, store and convey water for various beneficial uses and reduce downstream flooding.
  • Lower Cosumnes River – $1 million to divert water from a nearby water supply canal during heavy storm periods and spread on 129 acres of agricultural land, allowing recharge of the groundwater basin for later use during dry periods.
  • Mariposa County Resource Conservation District – $700,000 for the Bootjack Fire Station Water Storage Project, which will increase the amount of water locally available to fight the increasing number of wildfires in the watershed.

To date, nearly $175.1 million has been awarded, and the remaining award of about $37 million for the Los Angeles/Ventura funding area will be announced in the near future.

For more information, visit the IRWM Grant Program webpage.

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