Governor Newsom’s Proposed Budget Includes Funding for Drought

  • by ACWA Staff
  • Jan 11, 2022
  • Water News

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 10 unveiled his proposed state budget for the 2022-’23 Fiscal Year. The $286 billion budget, including a $20.6 billion General Fund surplus for discretionary purposes, includes several state priorities including funding for COVID, wildfires, drought, climate change, education and more.

“ACWA is very encouraged by the Governor’s proposed additional investment for water and drought projects and forest health and will continue to advocate throughout the legislative session for additional funding for other critical issues such as dam safety,” said ACWA Executive Director Dave Eggerton.

Building upon last year’s three-year, $5.2 billion allocation to support drought response and long-term water sustainability, the Governor’s budget includes an additional $750 million General Fund drought response package focused on immediate drought response needs. The Governor’s proposed budget also includes $582 million for forest management projects.

The additional $750 million drought response package would be allocated to several ACWA priority issue areas, including:

  • Water Conservation Programs — $180 million for grants to large urban and small water suppliers to improve water efficiency, address leaks, reduce demand, provide water use efficiency-related mapping and training, support turf replacement and maintain a drought vulnerability tool.
  • Urban and Small Community Drought Relief — $145 million for local emergency drought assistance and grants to local water agencies facing loss of water supplies.
  • On-Farm Water Conservation — $20 million to bolster the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, which provides grants to implement irrigation systems that save water on agricultural operations.
  • Fish and Wildlife Protection — $75 million to mitigate immediate drought damage to fish and wildlife resources and build resilience of natural systems.
  • Multibenefit Land Repurposing — $40 million to increase regional capacity to repurpose irrigated agricultural land to reduce reliance on groundwater while providing community health, economic well-being, water supply, habitat, renewable energy, and climate benefits.
  • Groundwater Recharge — $30 million to provide grants to water districts to fund planning, engineering, water availability analyses and construction for groundwater recharge projects.
  • Technical Assistance and Drought Relief for Small Farmers — $10 million to provide mobile irrigation labs, land use mapping and imagery, irrigation education, and direct assistance to small farmers and ranchers who have experienced water cost increases of more than 50 percent.
  • Drought Contingency—$250 million as a drought contingency set aside to be allocated as part of the spring budget process, when additional water data will be available to inform additional drought needs.

California’s Constitution requires the Governor to submit a balanced budget proposal to the Legislature by Jan. 10 of each year. The Legislature now has until June 15 to pass the budget.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

2023 Year In Review

ACWA’s “2023 Year in Review” outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and […]

Groundwater Awareness Week 2024 Toolkit

ACWA encourages member agencies to participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week March 10-16 to raise the public’s awareness of groundwater […]

Dam Safety Fact Sheet

ACWA, along with the California Municipal Utilities Association and California Alliance for Jobs, has released a Dam Safety Fact Sheet, […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet – January 2024

  ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory […]

Comment Letter on Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Comments on Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model: Other Essential Infrastructure, Admin Needs, […]

Draft White Paper: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft White Paper Discussion On: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment […]

Division of Drinking Water Reporting Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo held November 28-30 in Indian Wells are available below. Please note that […]

Request for Extension of Public Comment Period for Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject: USEPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801 – Request for Extension of Public Comment Period […]

Joint Comment Letter Regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium MCL

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Joint Comment Letter regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level and Addendum to the […]

2024 ACWA Scholarship Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Attorney Programs

Presentations from the Attorney Programs held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo Nov. 28-30 in Indian Wells are available […]

Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric Program Investment Charge Program

Agency: California Public Utilities Commission Subject: A.19-10-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission’s Own Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Creative Vehicle Wrap Contest Highlights Water Education

MANTECA – With over 150 submissions, South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s (SSJID) “Watering the Roots of Our Community” art contest […]

Crowfoot to Deliver Spring Conference Welcoming Keynote

ACWA has announced that California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot will deliver the Wednesday welcoming keynote address during the ACWA […]

Much-Needed Water Improvements Coming to Nearby Disadvantaged Communities

BEAUMONT – Through its successful gap funding program, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) supports South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) […]

MSWD Announces New Strategic Plan and Appointment AGM

Mission Springs Water District is proud to unveil its new strategic plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing operations and […]

Forecasted SWP Allocation Doubles

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a second increase in the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for […]

Legislation to Ease Water Conservation Mandates Gains Regional Support

In a significant move aimed at alleviating the financial strain on water suppliers and households, Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD), […]

Planning Grant Awarded to NID and Tahoe National Forest for Management Project

GRASS VALLEY – The Nevada Irrigation District (NID), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, has received […]

EMWD Upgraded to AAA Credit Rating

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)’s commitment to financial excellence has been recognized when it received another AAA credit […]

EMWD Receives National Honor for Recycled Water Outreach Program

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) received national recognition for its recycled water outreach and education program when it […]

ACWA Members Urged to Contact Representatives to Extend NPDES Permit Term Lengths

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in time for a March […]

State Water Board Holds Workshop on Revised Draft Regulation for Water Use Efficiency

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board today held a workshop on the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation […]

Funding Secured for Rancho Water Infrastructure Projects

TEMECULA— With the recent release of the first package of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills, the Rancho California Water […]

JCSD Honors Congressman Takano with Local Leader of the Year Award

JURUPA VALLEY – The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) honored Congressman Mark Takano with its Local Leader of the Year […]

Sacramento-Area Water Providers Harnessed Historic 2023 Storms to Boost Groundwater Levels

Sacramento-area water providers leveraged the historic winter storms of 2023 to boost groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge, banking over 12.3 […]

City of Folsom Kicks Off Water Vision Project

Folsom’s Environmental and Water Resources Department is continuing its planning effort to guide the management of the city’s water resources […]