The California Department of Water Resources has announced the award of $27.3 million in Prop 84 grant funding to be distributed across 14 drought relief projects within Los Angeles County. In all, the agency awarded $221 million to projects across the state.

The 14 projects are part of the Greater Los Angeles County Region Integrated Regional Water Management Plan, a planning document developed by water resource managers throughout the LA Basin. The total cost of the projects is $184.2 million, the remainder of which will be covered by local water and municipal agencies.

Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation on March 1 to expedite the solicitation and award of Prop 84 IRWM funding so that it could be used to assist drought-affected communities throughout the state. Gary Bardini, deputy director of the State Department of Water Resources, said this round of grant funding is yet another outstanding example of the Governor’s commitment to addressing the water challenges facing California by having communities and regions work together on solutions.

“Integrated Water Management, as outlined in the Governor’s California Water Action Plan and in the Department of Water Resource’s just-released California Water Plan Update, is a collaborative, proven formula whose success is demonstrated in many regions of the state and will guide us in using, managing, and developing our water resources to the benefit of the environment, as well as California’s growing population,” Bardini said.

LA County Public Works Deputy Director Gary Hildebrand chairs the Greater LA County IRWM Leadership Committee, a group that represents a total of 112 federal and state agencies, cities, water agencies and special districts.

“Nearly $130 million has been awarded in recent years through the IRWM grant program to water resource management agencies in LA County,” he said. “This latest infusion of funds is a tribute to the dedication that local water partners have shown to the integrated planning process and will go a long way towards ensuring a more sustainable water future for LA County.”

Funding for individual projects ranges from $5 million for the Water Replenishment District of Southern California to increase the capacity of its existing recycled water supply line to $202,000 to the City of Inglewood to improve production at an existing water well. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power received $8.6 million to fund three projects, and nearly $1 million will go to the Los Angeles County Flood Control District to protect the West Coast Basin from seawater contamination. Other local agencies slated to receive funding include: West Basin Municipal Water District, Crescenta Valley Water District, Puente Basin Water Agency, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, and the cities of Burbank and Torrance.

Approved by California voters in 2006, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) authorizes $5.388 billion in general obligation bonds to fund safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, waterway and natural resource protection, water pollution and contamination control, state and local park improvements, public access to natural resources, and water conservation efforts.