DWR Awards Another $25 Million in Drought Relief for Small Communities

California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently announced its fourth round of funding commitments through the Small Community Drought Relief program.

DWR, with the help of the State Water Resources Control Board identified 14 projects for funding in the counties of Tulare, Lake, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sonoma, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Yolo and Colusa.

“As climate change further exacerbates dry conditions in California, it’s imperative that we take action now to strengthen drought resilience in our small and rural communities as we prepare for the possibility of a third dry year,” said Kris Tjernell, DWR Deputy Director of Integrated Watershed Management, “DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board will continue coordinating to identify projects for future phases of funding and provide support to our residents who need it most.”

Recipients of the $25 million in the fourth round include:

• Westhaven Community Services District: $4,120,833 to drill additional wells and replace the aging distribution system to minimize water loss.
• Sweetwater Springs Water District: $735,000 to rehabilitate an existing well and add a water storage tank to strengthen drought resiliency.
• Harbor View Mutual Water Company: $1,866,553 to replace the existing tanks with epoxy-lined steel water storage tanks.
• County of Colusa: $718,750 for 25 water tanks and bi-weekly water deliveries for up to 50 residents for about one year.
• Pixley Public Utility District: $1,986,677 to rehabilitate an existing well, install a backup generator, and replace leaking water mains.
• San Lorenzo Valley Water District: $3,203,856 to consolidate two water systems by installing two miles of pipelines and a pump station to provide water to Bracken Brae and Forest Springs in Santa Cruz County.
• San Mateo Resource Conservation District: $2,095,442 to replace about three miles of aging pipelines and upgrade the old water plant.

The Small Community Drought Relief program has awarded over $65 million in funding to 37 projects in 16 counties since its inception.