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The Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program is intended to promote and practice integrated regional water management to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, efficient urban development, protection of agriculture, and a strong economy.
In November of 2002, Proposition 50 was passed by California voters, approving Chapter 8 and the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program. To participate and be eligible for water resources planning and project grant funding, water agencies were asked to form a region when their jurisdictional boundaries overlap the same or connected watersheds, and involve appropriate stakeholders to integrate water supply, water quality, ecosystem, and flood control issues into their water resources planning and projects. Grant program guidelines require the development and adoption of an IRWM Plan for the region prior to applying for grant funding.
The San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District), in cooperation with the Water Resources Advisory Committee, has developed an IRWM Plan for the region defined as the County boundary. The San Luis Region’s IRWM Plan integrates all of the programs, plans and projects lead by entities within the region into water supply, water quality, ecosystem preservation and restoration, groundwater monitoring and management, and flood management programs. Depending on grant program funding criteria, projects within the IRWM Plan can be submitted by the District via the grant application process to the appropriate State agency for consideration. Additional State grant programs that utilize the IRWM Program include components of Propositions 84 and 1E.
DWR's IRWM Grant Program encourages development of integrated regional strategies for management of water resources by providing funding, through competitive grants.
Funding was authorized with passage by California voters of two propositions; Proposition 50 and Proposition 84.
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