Ninety-six million dollars ($96M) is available in the Greater Los Angeles Funding Area for projects that address drought-specific issues. The Watershed Coalition of Ventura County (WCVC) will oversee our region's grant application, and will determine the suite of projects at the May 12 Steering Committee meeting. In advance of that, the Calleguas Creek Watershed is now receiving project proposals from interested proponents.
Requirements for grant funding under the 2014 Drought Solicitation are very strict. At a minimum, a proponent's project must do at least one of the following:
- Provide immediate regional drought preparedness
- Increase local water supply reliability and the delivery of safe drinking water
- Assist water suppliers and regions to implement conservation programs and measures that are not locally cost-effective
- Reduce water quality conflicts or ecosystem conflicts created by the drought
To gather information on potential projects, WCVC has developed the 2014 IRWM Drought Solicitation Form.
The Form serves two purposes. First, it is a checklist by which potential project proponents can judge the suitability of their project to the 2014 Drought Solicitation grant. Second, for those who meet the requirements, the Form will act as the official proposal for the Calleguas Creek and WCVC Steering Committees.
2014 Drought Solicitation Form Instructions
What do I need to do to submit a project?
- Fill out the Form
- Write a single page describing why your project best fits the PSP and Guidelines criteria.
- Include an 8.5"x11" location map.
- Send all three documents to calleguaswatershed@gmail.com by EOB Monday, April 28.
- Develop a 5-10 minute presentation to make at the Calleguas Creek Watershed Steering Committee meeting on May 1, 10am-12pm, at Calleguas Municipal Water District (2100 Olsen Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360).
- Plan on attending the WCVC Steering Committee meeting on May 12, 9:30am-12pm at the Ventura County Government Center (800 S. Victoria, Ventura, CA 93003).
What if I have questions?
Project proponents are encouraged to read the Department of Water Resources's Guidelines and Project Solicitation Package (PSP). In addition, Kristine McCaffrey at Calleguas Municipal Water District, who will be leading the assembly of the grant application, has condensed the most salient points of those two documents in a Power Point presentation.
We recognize this is a quick turnaround, but it acts as an additional litmus test; if you cannot complete the form in less than two weeks, this probably is not the correct funding avenue or the correct time. Whatever money is not spent on drought-related projects under the 2014 Drought Solicitation Implementation Grant will be available next year for Round Three of Prop 84 IRWM funding, so this is not the last opportunity to get funds for your project.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email calleguaswatershed@gmail.com.
