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The Santa Cruz Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program provides a framework for local stakeholders to manage this region’s water and water-related resources. The Santa Cruz IRWM Plan was developed in response to California’s IRWM planning initiative to promote an informed, locally-driven, and consensus-based approach to water resources management.
The IRWM Plan includes strategies for developing and implementing policies and projects to ensure sustainable water use, reliable water supply, better water quality, improved flood protection and stormwater management, and environmental stewardship. Find out more
Summary - Santa Cruz IRWM
Statewide IRWM Efforts and Benefits
Regional Water Management Group
Next Meeting
October 2, 2025
Proposition 1 IRWM DAC Involvement Program
The statewide Disadvantaged Community Involvement Program is intended to ensure the involvement of economically disadvantaged communities (DACs) in regional water planning efforts and to define, understand, and address the water management needs of these communities.
Disadvantaged Community Online Mapping Tool
In June 2022, the Santa Cruz IRWM Region opened a solicitation projects for a regional funding proposal to DWR's IRWM Implementation Grant Program Round 2. Approximately $2.5 million dollars is available for projects in the Santa Cruz Region in Round 2.
For information on project eligibility and how to submit a project visit the Projects page.
Projects selected to be included: IRWM R2 Proposal Projects
DWR Implementation Grant Program
Round 2 IRWM Implementation Grant (2022)
DWR Proposal Solicitation Package (May 2022)
Santa Cruz IRWM Plan Addendum 2019
An addendum to the IRWM Plan was completed in 2019 to update and expand content in the Plan to meet the state's IRWM Plan Standards, including new information on water quality and climate change vulnerabilities.
IRWM Plan 2014
The County of Santa Cruz in collaboration with the local agencies, stakeholders and in partnership with the Regional Water Management Foundation (RWMF) completed the IRWM Plan in 2014. This work was funded in part through a competitive grant awarded by the Department of Water Resources and with local agency funds. The Plan is available here: IRWM Plan 2014.
Round 1 IRWM Implementation Grant (2020-21)
Final Awards List – Round 1 IRWM Implementation Grant
In July 2020, DWR released final funding awards for the six IRWM Regions in the Central Coast funding area.
List of recommended projects in the Santa Cruz IRWM Region
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