California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced $15 million in grants to support projects in the San Joaquin Valley through the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program.
The awards will provide critical funding support to implement innovative, multi-benefit projects for climate and water supply resilience as California is faced with extreme weather driven by climate change. This includes using stormwater capture to recharge the state’s critically strained groundwater basins.
“While the recent storms in California helped ease drought impacts in parts of California, many rural areas that rely on groundwater like in Fresno and Kern counties are still experiencing water supply shortages,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Today’s funding will help improve water supply reliability and water quality in these communities while supporting groundwater recharge that reduces flood risk and enhances stormwater management.”
Financed by voter-approved Proposition 1, the IRWM program has awarded more than $1.7 billion throughout California, which has been matched by $5.6 billion in local investments to help implement over 1,300 projects that foster climate resilience by mitigating drought impacts, improving water supply reliability, reducing flood and fire risk, increasing water storage and improving water quality.
A full list of projects can be viewed here.
