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Implementation Update April 2025

The Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program funds stormwater initiatives that improve water quality, increase our local water supply, and provide community benefits, like green spaces and parks. The program cultivates regional and community partnerships and prioritizes historically underserved communities.  

This newsletter provides important updates designed to help you stay informed and engaged. For further information on regional proposals, including those that are funded or under consideration, please visit the projects webpage. 

Your input and feedback are crucial to the collaborative, effective, and adaptive management of the SCW Program. Please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Key Dates to Know:

Public Education and Community Engagement Grants Program – APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSED 

The LA County Flood Control District is partnering with the Water Foundation to administer the SCW Program Public Education and Community Engagement Grants Program to support impactful education and engagement efforts on stormwater and urban runoff capture throughout the region.

With overwhelming interest and a high volume of strong applications, the program has already allocated millions in funding to innovative projects that enhance community awareness and participation in water stewardship. In Round 1, 15 grant proposals were awarded approximately $3.1M, and subsequent rounds have seen equally impressive engagement.

The final deadline for grant submissions was April 4, 2025, and the program is now closed to new applications. We look forward to announcing funded Round 2 and Round 3 proposals and are excited to see the positive impact of the funded projects in communities across LA County.

Thank you to all applicants for making this program a success!

Project Highlight

Zamora Park Renovation Project

Zamora Park Renovation Project, located in the Upper San Gabriel River, had their groundbreaking ceremony on March 15, 2025. The 4.48-acre public park will include green infrastructure and Low Impact Development elements including permeable surfaces, water efficient irrigation, bioswales, infiltration areas, and the planting of over 100 new trees and other native vegetation. These elements will enable the project to capture and infiltrate an average of 0.23-acre feet of stormwater annually. The park will also include a playground for kids ages 2-5, a second playground for kids ages 5-12, basketball courts, open field for youth sports and passive recreation, splash pad, outdoor fitness equipment, walking and jogging paths, picnic areas with barbecue grills, amphitheater, plaza, teen zone, and community art.

Adaptive Management

Watershed Planning

The SCW Program Watershed Planning Team is evaluating the impacts of the recent wildfires and how related opportunities may be incorporated in the Initial Watershed Plans and online planning tool in development, which will be available in early 2026. Additionally, future Adaptive Plans will continue to evaluate wildfire impacts and potential strategies and actions to address those impacts.  

Initial Watershed Plans for each of the nine Watershed Areas will inform future investments and maximize progress toward achieving the goals of the SCW Program. The plans will identify needs and opportunities to support strategic investments, while aligning with the Countywide vision to create sustainable, equitable water solutions.

Phase 3 of the Watershed Area Steering Committee (WASC) engagements begins in April. The draft Initial Watershed Plans will be available for a 30-day public review period in late summer 2025.  

The Community Strengths & Needs Assessment (CSNA) Survey and Dashboard are live and can be found on the SCW Program website’s Adaptive Management page.

For questions regarding the Watershed Planning effort, please email us at WatershedPlanning@pw.lacounty.gov.    

Regional Oversight Committee

The ROC conducts regular meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The next ROC meeting is scheduled for April 9th. The meeting will be dedicated to reviewing the reports and data to date and discussing the outline and process for the 2025 Safe, Clean Water Program Progress Report (Biennial Progress Report). Upcoming meeting details will be posted on the ROC events webpage as they become available.

Please also save the date for all remaining ROC meetings related to the 2025 Biennial Report:

  • Draft Report Meeting 1: September 10, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm – Discuss the draft 2025 Biennial Progress Report
  • Draft Report Meeting 2: October 8, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm – Present the draft 2025 Biennial Progress Report and initiate 30-day Public Comment Period
  • Final Report Meeting: December 10, 2025, 1:00-4:00 pm – Approve final 2025 Biennial Progress Report to submit to County Board of Supervisors

The ROC members are looking to host their meetings at various locations across Los Angeles County. If your agency or municipality is interested in hosting a meeting, please contact the Regional Oversight Committee Executive Clerk at SCWP_ROC_ExecClerk@pw.lacounty.gov to discuss the logistics.

Regional Program

Stormwater Investment Plan Programming Guidelines

As Public Works continues to implement adaptive management practices and involve the governance committees in the iterative and robust decision-making process, guidelines have been developed to help interpret the Los Angeles Flood Control District Code and support the Watershed Area Steering Committees in reviewing and recommending Projects, Project Concepts, and Studies. The Regional Program Stormwater Investment Plan (SIP) Programming Guidelines include, but are not limited to, guidance in complying with the SIP criteria and financial recommendations for programming the current SIP year. You can find the guidelines on the SCW Program website under Adaptive Management.

Reporting Timeline

The Regional Program Reporting Timeline has transitioned from quarterly to semi-annual submittals. Project and Scientific Study Developers are required to submit Mid-Year Reports starting FY24-25.

Please note the following due dates for recent and upcoming Regional Program Reports:

  • FY24-25 Mid-Year Report (covering expenditures and progress between July 2024 and December 2024) was due on February 15, 2025. The deadline was extended to February 28, 2025.
  • FY24-25 Annual Report (covering expenditures and progress between July 2024 and June 2025) is due on August 15, 2025.

The new Metrics & Measures section is now available as a new tile in the Regional Program Reporting Module. The Metrics & Measures section collects data for metrics specific to Projects in planning, design, construction, and post-construction phases to align with and inform the Watershed Planning efforts and Program-wide progress assessments. Project Developers with Projects in the planning phase should provide data that predicts Project performance, while those in design, construction, or post-construction should provide data that reflects their Project’s design or implementation.

Municipal Program

Renewal of Municipal Transfer Agreements

The SCW Program recently updated the Reporting Module to streamline the renewal process for Municipal Transfer Agreements (TAs).

Fifth (FY24-25) Municipal Disbursement

The first FY24-25 Annual disbursements (local return for year 5) were completed in December 2024 and February 2025 for municipalities that met all eligibility requirements (52 cities have collectively received just over $70M in local return).

Annual Municipal Program local return disbursements are being processed once the municipality has met all eligibility requirements.

Annual Plans

The Safe Clean Water Municipal Program FY25-26 Annual Plans were due April 1, 2025. Municipalities can use the Reporting Module Municipal Program tile to submit their corresponding Annual Plans.

Metrics & Measures

A Metrics & Measures section is being developed as a new tile in the Municipal Program Reporting Module. This Metrics & Measures section will collect data for performance metrics specific to Municipal Program projects to align with and inform the Watershed Planning efforts and Program-wide progress assessments. A release date and instructions for municipalities to provide data will be provided soon.

District Program

Credit Trading Program

The Credit Trading Program will allow eligible parcels to generate/sell or purchase credits to be used towards the purchasing parcel’s Safe Clean Water assessment. The Procedures and Guidelines document has been approved and can be viewed HERE. The Safe, Clean Water Program is continuing implementation of the Credit Trading Program and anticipates to begin accepting applications to generate/sell credits in Summer 2025.

For more information on the Credit Trading Program, please refer to: Tax Information, Forms & Tools.

Low-Income Senior-Owned Exemptions

The SCW Program is still accepting Low-Income Senior-Owned Exemption Forms for FY25-26. Applications must be mailed or dropped off in person by May 1, 2025. Application forms and more information can be found at: Tax Information, Forms & Tools.

General Income-Based Tax Reductions

The SCW Program is still accepting General Income-Based Tax Reduction Forms for FY25-26. Applications must be mailed or dropped off in person by May 1, 2025. Application forms and more information can be found at: Tax Information, Forms & Tools.

Interested in tracking the Safe, Clean Water Program Watershed Coordination events happening in your community? Check out the new website calendar feature to find events near you.

Your input and feedback are crucial to the collaborative, effective, and adaptive management of the SCW Program. Please do not hesitate to contact us.