CA Prop 84 Stormwater Grant Program
The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) authorizes $5.388 billion in general obligation bonds to fund safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, waterway and natural resource protection, water pollution and contamination control, state and local park improvements, public access to natural resources, and water conservation efforts. You can read more about the funding process on the waterboards.ca.gov website.
Proposition 84 allocated $90 million to the Stormwater Grant Program to be awarded by the State Water Resources Control Board through competitive grants. The Public Resources Code requires that funds for this program be used to provide matching grants to local public agencies for the reduction and prevention of stormwater contamination of rivers, lakes, and streams. The County of Santa Cruz partnered with City of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley Water District, the Resource Conservation District, and the Regional Water Management Foundation to successfully secure $2,259,773 in grant funds. The partners are contributing $712,310 in local in-kind match. The overall goals of the grant are to restore and protect the water quality of local rivers, creeks and streams, and enhance groundwater recharge. A secondary purpose is to foster countywide cooperation in reducing polluted runoff. This effort continues a long tradition of collaboration among organizations working together to improve water quality in Santa Cruz. The project consists of two main components:
- Outreach and technical assistance for homeowners, contractors, and developers throughout the County, and
- Implementation of four ecologically beneficial stormwater best management projects to reduce stormwater volumes, improve water quality and recharge groundwater, the primary source of drinking water in this area. All components are located in areas that drain to rivers or creeks that are listed as impaired by the State of California.
Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the SWRCB, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.