The current Call for Projects closed on July 31. Click HERE for more information.
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Implementation Update August 2025

The Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program funds stormwater initiatives that improve water quality, increase our local water supply, and provide community benefits such as 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.

Key Dates to Know:

Project Spotlight: Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project

The Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project is located in the unincorporated community of Florence-Firestone, a historically disadvantaged area within the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed. As one of the first collaborative stormwater quality projects between LA County Public Works and LA County Parks and Recreation, it represents a significant investment in both environmental resilience and community well-being.

Funded with $4 million from the Safe, Clean Water Program in FY2020-2021, this innovative project is designed to capture and treat over 8.47-acre feet (approximately 2.8 million gallons) of stormwater during a single storm event—helping to reduce pollution and recharge local groundwater supplies.

Key stormwater features include a pretreatment device, drywells, and infiltration galleries beneath the soccer field, all of which manage runoff effectively while seamlessly blending into the park’s design. The project also includes upgrades such as picnic tables, outdoor fitness equipment, and an educational garden to enhance the park’s usability.

By combining essential water quality functions with enhanced recreational amenities, the Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project creates a vibrant, multi-use space that benefits both the community and the environment.  It stands as a model for future projects in underserved communities and highlights the value of integrating infrastructure with public green space.

(Roosevelt Park Stormwater Capture Project)

Regional Oversight Committee

The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) holds meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The next ROC meeting is on August 13, 2025. The meeting is scheduled to include an Initial Watershed Plans Preview along with a presentation on the SCWP District Education Programs. Meeting details will be posted on the ROC events webpage as they become available.

Please save the new dates for all remaining ROC meetings related to the 2025 Biennial Progress Report:

  • October 8, 2025, 1:00 – 4:00 PM – Discuss the DRAFT 2025 Biennial Progress Report
  • December 10, 2025, 1:00 – 4:00 PM – Present the DRAFT 2025 Biennial Progress Report and initiate 30-day Public Comment Period
  • February 11, 2026, 1:00 – 4:00 PM – Approve the FINAL 2025 Biennial Progress Report for submission to County Board of Supervisors

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

Call for Projects

The current Call for Projects (Infrastructure Program), Project Concepts (Technical Resources Program), and Studies (Scientific Studies Program) closed on July 31. Once applications are checked for completeness, each Watershed Area Steering Committee (WASC) will discuss and vote to send none, some, or all Projects to the Scoring Committee for scoring. Scores will determine a Project’s eligibility to be considered by the respective WASC.

Report on Leveraged Funding Opportunities

The latest Report on Leveraged Funding Opportunities is now available! This report provides a high-level summary of recent funding policy highlights and includes a funding matrix outlining current and upcoming funding opportunities relevant to Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program infrastructure projects. An updated report will be posted quarterly for SCW Program participants. You can access the most recent report HERE. 

Reporting Timeline

The Regional Program Reporting Timeline has transitioned from quarterly to semi-annual submittals. Starting in FY 2024–25, Project and Scientific Study Developers are required to submit Mid-Year Reports.

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

  • 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 also available as a tile in the Regional Program Reporting Module. This section captures data related to project metrics across the planning, design, construction, and post-construction phases. It is designed to align with and inform Watershed Planning efforts and to support program-wide progress assessments. Project Developers with projects in the planning phase should provide data predicting project performance, while those with projects in the design, construction, or post-construction phases should report data that reflects actual design or implementation outcomes.

Adaptive Management

Watershed Planning

The SCW Program Watershed Planning Team is hosting a virtual Technical Information Session on the Draft Initial Watershed Plans on August 12 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The session is open to the public and will focus on the analytical processes used to develop Watershed Area Baselines and Targets, and how these support Countywide Goals. Following the session, drafts of the nine Initial Watershed Plans will be available for public comment on the SCW Program website from August 14 to September 28. The Watershed Planning Team will present the Draft Initial Watershed Plans during the October/November WASC meetings. Updated plans will be published, and the Watershed Planning Tool is set to launch in early 2026. For questions regarding the Watershed Planning effort, please email us at WatershedPlanning@pw.lacounty.gov.

Municipal Program

Fifth (FY24-25) Municipal Disbursement

The annual disbursements for FY24–25 (local return for year 5) were completed in December 2024, February 2025, and April 2025 for municipalities that met all eligibility requirements. A total of 65 cities received over $85 million collectively in local return. Disbursements from the Annual Municipal Program are processed once a municipality has fulfilled all eligibility criteria.

Annual Plans

The SCW Program Municipal Program FY 2025-26 Annual Plans were due on April 1, 2025. Municipalities can use the Municipal Program tile in the Reporting Module to view all completed Plans and submit their FY 2025-26 Annual Plan if it is still pending.

Metrics & Measures

A new Metrics & Measures section has been added as a tile within the Municipal Program Reporting Module. This section is designed to collect data on performance metrics specific to Municipal Program projects, helping to align with Watershed Planning efforts and support program-wide progress evaluations.

A workshop on Metrics & Measures was held on May 15, 2025. Municipalities can access the recorded video, PowerPoint presentation, and FAQ document on the workshop event webpage. The Metrics & Measures data submission deadline was June 16, 2025.

District Program

Public Education and Community Engagement Grants Program – GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES HAVE COMMENCED

The LA County Flood Control District is partnering with the Water Foundation to administer the Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Program Public Education and Community Engagement Grants Program. This collaboration supports impactful education and outreach efforts focused on stormwater management and urban runoff capture across the region.

The Grants Program received an overwhelming response, with a high volume of strong and competitive applications. A total of $8.5 million of grant funding has been allocated across 52 approved projects, and proposed grant activities have begun.  Round 1 awarded 15 grant proposals totaling approximately $3.1 million. Round 2 funded 19 proposals with approximately $3 million, and Round 3 funded 18 proposals with approximately $2.3 million.

At the August 13th ROC meeting, there will be an update on the District Education Programs, including a presentation on the Grants Program by the Water Foundation.  Detailed information about funded projects from all three rounds is available on the Water Foundation’s website. We are excited to witness the positive impact these projects will have in communities across LA County. Thank you to all applicants for making this program a success!

Credit Trading Program

Property owners who are exempt from the Safe Clean Water assessment (Qualified Sellers) and demonstrate stormwater improvements that provide at least water quality benefits may be eligible to participate in the Credit Trading Program.

Qualified Sellers may generate Tax Credit Trading Units (TCTUs) to sell to parcels subject to the Safe Clean Water assessment (Qualified Buyers). These TCTUs are purchased at a price of less than $1 per TCTU and each TCTU represents $1 applied to the Qualified Buyer’s Safe Clean Water assessment. TCTU transactions must take place within BOTH the same watershed area and municipality. Be sure to look up your parcel’s watershed area HERE by September 30, 2025.

Qualified Sellers looking to generate TCTUs shall submit their application and Engineer’s Report to the Online Application and Recertification.

Qualified Buyers shall contact safecleanwaterla@dpw.lacounty.gov or 833-275-7297 for available volumes of TCTUs and for the Qualified Seller’s contact information.

The Procedures and Guidelines document can be viewed HERE.

Credit Program

The Safe Clean Water Program is currently accepting credit application recertifications for eligible parcels with stormwater improvements that provide, at a minimum, water quality benefits. The Credit Program Procedures and Guidelines can be viewed HERE. Applications must be submitted online HERE by December 31, 2025.

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

Appeals

Property owners who believe their tax has been calculated incorrectly may file an appeal with the LA County Flood Control District. Please note that the online appeals tool is currently unavailable due to annual maintenance and is expected to be back online around mid-September. The revised Appeals Procedures and Guidelines document is available for a 30-day Public Notice, concluding on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Please see revised document HERE.