79732.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (g) or (h), the department shall award grants to eligible projects that implement an adopted integrated regional water management plan.(b) An urban water supplier that does not prepare, adopt, and submit its urban water management plan in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) of Division 6) is ineligible to receive funds made available pursuant to Section 79731 until the urban water management plan is prepared and submitted in accordance with the requirements of that act.
(c) For the purposes of awarding a grant under this chapter, the department shall require a local cost share of not less than 50 percent of the total costs of the project. The department may waive or reduce the cost-sharing requirement for projects that directly benefit a disadvantaged community or an economically distressed area.
(d) Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Agricultural and urban water use efficiency implementation projects, including, but not limited to, feasibility studies, technical assistance, education, and public outreach, and projects that result in water savings, increased instream flow, improved water quality, or increased energy efficiency.
(2) Recycling, reclamation, water treatment for the recovery of water supplies, desalination, and associated facilities, including distributions and storage systems.
(3) Groundwater and surface storage projects, and conjunctive use and reservoir reoperations projects.
(4) Groundwater contamination prevention, cleanup, and treatment, and other water quality projects necessary to protect existing or potential water supplies. The implementation of a project financed pursuant to this paragraph does not relieve a responsible party or liable person from that person’s obligation under existing state or federal law to clean up or remediate, or otherwise treat, contaminated water.
(5) Projects that reduce contributions to climate change from water management systems.
(6) Projects that enhance the adaptability to climate change of water management systems.
(7) Other projects that meet the requirements of Section 75026 of the Public Resources Code.
(e) Eligible applicants are public agencies, public utilities, and mutual water companies. To be eligible for funding under Section 79731, projects proposed by public utilities that are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission and mutual water companies shall have a clear and definite public purpose and shall benefit the customers of those respective water systems.
(f) The funding provided under Section 79731 shall be allocated to each hydrologic region as identified in the California Water Plan in accordance with this subdivision. For the South Coast hydrologic region, the department shall establish three funding areas that reflect the watersheds of San Diego County (designated as the San Diego subregion), the Santa Ana River watershed and southern Orange County (designated as the Santa Ana subregion), and the Los Angeles and Ventura County watersheds (designated as the Los Angeles subregion), and shall allocate funds to those areas in accordance with this subdivision. The North and South Lahontan hydrologic regions shall be treated as one area for the purpose of allocating funds. The department may recognize multiple integrated regional water management plans in each of the areas allocated funding. Funds provided under Section 79731 shall be allocated as follows:
(1) North Coast | $76,000,000 |
(2) San Francisco Bay | $171,000,000 |
(3) Central Coast | $91,000,000 |
(4) Los Angeles subregion | $243,000,000 |
(5) Santa Ana subregion | $167,000,000 |
(6) San Diego subregion | $122,000,000 |
(7) Sacramento River | $115,000,000 |
(8) San Joaquin River | $101,000,000 |
(9) Tulare/Kern | $103,000,000 |
(10) North/South Lahontan | $72,000,000 |
(11) Colorado River Basin | $79,000,000 |
(12) Interregional | $350,000,000 |
(g) Interregional funds provided pursuant to paragraph (12) of subdivision (f) may be expended directly or granted by the department to address multiregional needs or state priorities, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Investing in new water technology development and deployment.
(2) Meeting state water recycling and water conservation goals.
(3) Adapting to climate change impacts.
(4) Reducing contributions to climate change.
(5) Other projects to improve statewide water management systems.
(6) Other projects and activities designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged communities or economically distressed areas, including technical and grant writing assistance.
(h) Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) of the interregional funds provided pursuant to paragraph (12) of subdivision (f) shall be allocated for costs incurred in connection with the provision of recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement at state water projects. The funds shall be available to pay the costs associated with the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement.