CHAPTER 7. Regional Water Security, Climate, and Drought Preparedness [79740. - 79748.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 7.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79740. Section 79740.

The sum of eight hundred ten million dollars ($810,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature from the fund, for expenditures on, and competitive grants and loans to, projects that are included in and implemented in an adopted integrated regional water management plan consistent with Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6 and respond to climate change and contribute to regional water security as provided in this chapter.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79741. Section 79741.

In order to improve regional water self-reliance security and adapt to the effects on water supply arising out of climate change, the purposes of this chapter are to: (a) Help water infrastructure systems adapt to climate change, including, but not limited to, sea level rise. (b) Provide incentives for water agencies throughout each watershed to collaborate in managing the region’s water resources and setting regional priorities for water infrastructure. (c) Improve regional water self-reliance consistent with Section 85021.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79742. Section 79742.

(a) In selecting among proposed projects in a watershed, the scope of the adopted integrated regional water management plan may be considered by the administering state agency, with priority going to projects in plans that cover a greater portion of the watershed. If a plan covers substantially all of the watershed, the plan’s project priorities shall be given deference if the project and plan otherwise meet the requirements of this division and the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.2 (commencing with Section 10530) of Division 6). (b) A local agency that does not prepare, adopt, and submit its groundwater plan in accordance with groundwater planning requirements established under Division 6 (commencing with Section 10000) is ineligible to apply for funds made available pursuant to this chapter until the plan is prepared and submitted in accordance with the requirements of that part. The groundwater management plan requirement shall not apply to a water replenishment district formed pursuant to Division 18 (commencing with Section 60000) or to a local agency that serves or has authority to manage an adjudicated groundwater basin. (c) For the purposes of awarding funding under this chapter, a cost share from nonstate sources of not less than 50 percent of the total costs of the project shall be required. The cost-sharing requirement may be waived or reduced for projects that directly benefit a disadvantaged community or an economically distressed area. (d) Not less than 10 percent of the funds authorized by this chapter shall be allocated to projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities. (e) For the purposes of awarding funding under this chapter, the applicant shall demonstrate that the integrated regional water management plan the applicant’s project implements contributes to addressing the risks in the region to water supply and water infrastructure arising from climate change. (f) Projects that achieve multiple benefits shall receive special consideration.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79743. Section 79743.

Subject to the determination of regional priorities in the regional water management group, eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, projects that promote any of the following: (a) Water reuse and recycling for nonpotable reuse and direct and indirect potable reuse. (b) Water-use efficiency and water conservation. (c) Local and regional surface and underground water storage, including groundwater aquifer cleanup or recharge projects. (d) Regional water conveyance facilities that improve integration of separate water systems. (e) Watershed protection, restoration, and management projects, including projects that reduce the risk of wildfire or improve water supply reliability. (f) Stormwater resource management, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Projects to reduce, manage, treat, or capture rainwater or stormwater. (2) Projects that provide multiple benefits such as water quality, water supply, flood control, or open space. (3) Decision support tools that evaluate the benefits and costs of multibenefit stormwater projects. (4) Projects to implement a stormwater resource plan developed in accordance with Part 2.3 (commencing with Section 10560) of Division 6. (g) Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater storage facilities. (h) Water desalination projects. (i) Decision support tools to model regional water management strategies to account for climate change and other changes in regional demand and supply projections. (j) Improvement of water quality, including drinking water treatment and distribution, groundwater and aquifer remediation, matching water quality to water use, wastewater treatment, water pollution prevention, and management of urban and agricultural runoff.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79744. Section 79744.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79740, five hundred ten million dollars ($510,000,000) shall be allocated to the hydrologic regions as identified in the California Water Plan in accordance with this section. For the South Coast hydrologic region, the department shall establish three funding areas that reflect the watersheds of San Diego County and southern Orange County (designated as the San Diego subregion), the Santa Ana River watershed (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. For purposes of this subdivision, the Sacramento River hydrologic region does not include the Delta. For purposes of this subdivision, the Mountain Counties Overlay is not eligible for funds from the Sacramento River hydrologic region or the San Joaquin River hydrologic region. Multiple integrated regional water management plans may be recognized in each of the areas allocated funding. (b) Funds made available by this chapter shall be allocated as follows: (1) Twenty-six million five hundred thousand dollars ($26,500,000) for the North Coast hydrologic region. (2) Sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) for the San Francisco Bay hydrologic region. (3) Forty-three million dollars ($43,000,000) for the Central Coast hydrologic region. (4) Ninety-eight million dollars ($98,000,000) for the Los Angeles subregion. (5) Sixty-three million dollars ($63,000,000) for the Santa Ana subregion. (6) Fifty-two million five hundred thousand dollars ($52,500,000) for the San Diego subregion. (7) Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) for the Sacramento River hydrologic region. (8) Thirty-one million dollars ($31,000,000) for the San Joaquin River hydrologic region. (9) Thirty-four million dollars ($34,000,000) for the Tulare/Kern hydrologic region. (10) Twenty-four million five hundred thousand dollars ($24,500,000) for the North/South Lahontan hydrologic region. (11) Twenty-two million five hundred thousand dollars ($22,500,000) for the Colorado River Basin hydrologic region. (12) Thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) for the Mountain Counties Overlay.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79745. Section 79745.

The Department of Water Resources shall expend, either directly or for noncompetitive grants, no less than 10 percent of the funds from the regional allocations specified in Section 79744 for the purposes of ensuring involvement of disadvantaged communities, economically distressed areas, or underrepresented communities within regions.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79746. Section 79746.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79740, the sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) may be used for direct expenditures, and for grants and loans, for the following water conservation and water-use efficiency plans, projects, and programs: (1) Urban water conservation plans, projects, and programs, including regional projects and programs, implemented to achieve urban water use targets developed pursuant to Section 10608.20. Priority for funding shall be given to programs that do any of the following: (A) Assist water suppliers and regions to implement conservation programs and measures that are not locally cost effective. (B) Support water supplier and regional efforts to implement programs targeted to enhance water-use efficiency for commercial, industrial, and institutional water users. (C) Assist water suppliers and regions with programs and measures targeted toward realizing the conservation benefits of implementation of the provisions of the state landscape model ordinance. (2) Agricultural water management plans or agricultural water use efficiency projects and programs developed pursuant to Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800) of Division 6. (b) Section 1011 applies to all conservation measures that an agricultural water supplier or an urban water supplier implements with funding under this chapter. This subdivision does not limit the application of Section 1011 to any other measures or projects implemented by a water supplier. Notwithstanding Section 79748, the projects funded pursuant to this section are not required to be in an adopted integrated regional water management plan or to comply with that program.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79747. Section 79747.

(a) Of the funds authorized by Section 79740, two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) shall be available for grants for multibenefit stormwater management projects. (b) Eligible projects may include, but shall not be limited to, green infrastructure, rainwater and stormwater capture projects, and stormwater treatment facilities. (c) Development of plans for stormwater projects shall address the entire watershed and incorporate the perspectives of communities adjacent to the affected waterways, especially disadvantaged communities.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 79748. Section 79748.

In order to receive funding authorized by this chapter to address groundwater quality or supply in an aquifer, the applicant shall demonstrate that a public agency has authority to manage the water resources in that aquifer. A groundwater management plan adopted and submitted in accordance with groundwater management planning requirements established under Division 6 (commencing with Section 10000) shall be deemed sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026