From the Department of Water Resources:
The California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office, in support of the Department’s County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program, provides the below information to California Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) in relation to the financial assistance and direct technical assistance available to counties for compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 552 – Drought Planning for Small Water Suppliers, State Small Water Systems, and Domestic Well Communities.
While GSAs are not formally subject to SB552, your agency may be an important partner to support counties with establishing a Drought and Water Shortage Task Force and developing a County Drought Resilience Plan that would improve drought and water shortage preparedness for state small water systems and domestic wells within a county’s jurisdiction.
Assistance to counties through the County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program includes up to $125,000 in either financial assistance or direct technical assistance to support their planning efforts. All counties in California, and only counties, are eligible to apply for this specific financial assistance or direct technical assistance.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: To assist counties in their efforts to comply with SB 552 requirements, DWR is offering each county a non-competitive planning grant up to $125,000 to reimburse eligible planning expenses. Counties must submit applications with the approval of the corresponding County Board of Supervisors or by the Chief County Administrative Officer. Applications for financial assistance will be evaluated on a continuous basis UNTIL DECEMBER 29, 2023.
DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: In lieu of the above financial assistance, DWR is offering direct technical assistance to help counties in their efforts to comply with SB 552 requirements. Applications for direct technical assistance will be evaluated on a continuous basis UNTIL MAY 31, 2024.
For more information on the County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program or assistance with beginning an application for either financial assistance or direct technical assistance, contact CountyDRP@water.ca.gov.
