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This is an email from the Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Office.

Please do not reply directly to this email; for more information or general inquiries, please contact: sgmps@water.ca.gov. 

This is a courtesy email to inform you of updates to Proposition 4 Watershed Resilience and Sustainable Groundwater Management grant programs that may be of interest to you.

Update on Proposition 4 SGM & Watershed Resilience

Thank you to everyone who joined the public webinar this past April. Based on the feedback we’ve received, the following updates have been made to the Proposition 4 Watershed Resilience and Sustainable Groundwater Management grant programs.

Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGM)

• Draft Guidelines to administer a 2025 legislative directive of $3.5 million for small GSAs and $6.5 million for Technical Assistance will be released for public comment soon.
• General Public Comment Workshop, September 1, 2026, 11am-12pm, Register here: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/9NsBBiixR8653uQGD_WpoQ
• General Public Comment Follow-up Workshop, September 22, 2026, 10am-11am, Register here: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/sGYXxQn5S6C3NMyl64sSIw
• Draft Guidelines and PSP for the full Proposition 4 solicitation (over $300 million) are expected in early fall. Concept proposals are then expected to open early 2027, with full applications over summer 2027. Registration for the public comment workshops will be available at a later time.
• Tribal Public Comment Workshop, October 20, 2026, 2-4pm
• General Public Comment Workshop, November 5, 2026, 2-3:30pm

Watershed Resilience

Based on public input, there will be two solicitations under the Proposition 4 Watershed Resilience Program, and both will contain implementation project funding as follows:

• Conservation Implementation (~$60 million for projects) - Capital projects with a water conservation benefit. Projects don't need to be listed in a Watershed Resilience Plan but must be selected by a "collaborative group" (definition forthcoming in the Guidelines). Draft Guidelines/PSP expected early fall; concept proposals early 2027, full applications spring 2027.
• Tribal Public Comment Workshop, October 12, 2026, 10am-12pm, Register here: https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/Kr9zpSf0QpukRTuvIIkogg
• General Public Comment Workshop, October 22, 2026, 1pm-3pm, Register here:  https://stantec.zoom.us/meeting/register/fkEXOUglS4u0OUbix1ta0w
• Watershed Resilience Planning+ (~$92 million for projects) – Grantees will work collaboratively across their watershed to develop a Watershed Resilience Plan and then use funding to implement the top-priority project(s) identified by that plan. Draft Guidelines/PSP expected this winter; concept proposals late 2027, followed by full applications.

We'll continue to share updates as these solicitations move forward. Please note these are schedule estimates and the final schedule will depend on the volume and content of public comment. Additional workshop dates will be scheduled/offered in 2027. Please also check the individual websites for the latest schedule updates and information, and don't hesitate to reach out with questions at financialassistance@water.ca.gov.

Thank you,

Financial Assistance Branch