Program: Integrated Regional Water Management

Bond Act: Proposition 84

Agency of Appropriation: Department of Water Resources

Bond Statute: 75026, 75027(a)(1), 75026, 75027(a)(10), 75026, 75027(a)(11), 75026, 75027(a)(12) and (b), 75026, 75027(a)(2), 75026, 75027(a)(3), 75026, 75027(a)(4), 75026, 75027(a)(5), 75026, 75027(a)(6), 75026, 75027(a)(7), 75026, 75027(a)(8), 75026, 75027(a)(9), 75026, unspecified

Implementing Statute: Water Code 79560

  • Front-end
  • In-progress
  • Follow-up (Audit)

The Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program is a competitive grant program first created under the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 50) with continuing funding provided by the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84). Complementary funding was also provided by the Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act or 2006 (Proposition 1E) for Stormwater Flood Management Grant Program.

The program is administered by the Department of Water Resources to award funds to local public agencies and non-profit organizations, for projects and programs to improve water supply reliability and improve and protect water quality. Such projects and programs must be consistent with an adopted IRWM Plan. Using Proposition 50 IRWM guidelines (2004) as the program foundation, the Department of Water Resources developed Program Guidelines that meet the requirements of Proposition 84 and Proposition 1E and related implementing legislation. These guidelines are used for the disbursement of the Proposition 84 IRWM funding and the related Proposition 1E Stormwater Flood Management funding. Final Program Guidelines were adopted and released by DWR in August 2010 and updated in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The guidelines include general program requirements, eligibility requirements, proposal selection information, and the IRWM Plan standards and associated guidance. The guidelines establish three component grant programs – the IRWM Planning Grant Program, the IRWM Implementation Grant Program, and the related Stormwater Flood Management Grant Program.

Additional information on the IRWM Program can be found on the Department of Water Resources website.

Projects selected for funding under the IRWM Grant program are required to spend grant funds as per the approved project scope and budget. The Department of Water Resources requires quarterly progress reports for all projects and conducts site visits during construction for each development project. Payment requests must include a signed invoice by the grantee verifying that each expense complies with requirements outlined in the grant agreement. Grantees must also submit supporting documentation for each expense, with reimbursements approved only for eligible expenses pursuant to program guidelines and contained within the approved project budget. The Department of Water Resources also withholds up to ten percent of each payment request to be released upon project completion. All Proposition 84 IRWM Local Assistance funds ($915 million) have been awarded and no additional solicitations will be conducted. Among the funds, total of $30 million and $808.5 million was awarded through the Planning and Implementation Grant Program, respectively.

All construction/implementation projects funded via the IRWM Grant program receive a close-out visit conducted by the Department of Water Resources at the time the project is complete and prior to releasing retention amount. The purpose of the close-out field visit is to ensure all project components were completed according to program guidelines and the terms of the grant agreement, including project scope and budget. All construction/ implementation grantees are required to conduct post construction/implementation monitoring and to assess project performance. Due to the nature of the IRWM Planning Grant program, the follow-up accountability differs and consists of ensuring that the funded planning actions were completed. All grantees must comply with all current laws and regulations which apply to the project and submit documents summarizing total project costs and all additional funding sources.

Projects within this Program: