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:
- July 9, 2025 – Regional Oversight Committee Meeting
- July 31, 2025 – FY26-27 Call for Projects Deadline
How to Get Involved
Attend an upcoming WASC meeting!
Stay connected and help shape the future of your community by attending a Watershed Area Steering Committee (WASC) meeting. Whether you’re a local resident, part of a partner organization, or an interested stakeholder, there are many ways to get involved.
WASCs include representatives from cities, public agencies, and local communities. They review proposed projects and develop investment plans for their watershed areas. Attending a WASC meeting is a great way to stay informed and involved in efforts to improve water quality, expand green space, and strengthen climate resilience. You can join WASC meetings virtually through the WebEx platform. Visit our calendar to find upcoming WASC meetings and other community events.
Interested in taking on a more active role? Complete and submit an Interest to Serve Form to be considered for a seat on a WASC. Your participation helps ensure the SCW Program reflects the diverse needs and voices of our communities.
Project Highlight
Urban Orchard Park Grand Opening!
The Urban Orchard Park, a transformative green space that combines recreation, restoration, and resilience, is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Located within the Lower Los Angeles River Watershed Area, this 7-acre park integrates community-driven design with green infrastructure to deliver environmental and public health benefits.
Situated in the City of South Gate, the Urban Orchard Project serves two primary purposes: to divert and treat stormwater runoff from the LA River and to provide accessible recreation opportunities for residents. The site features a restored wetland, which helps improve water quality and fish habitat, contributing to a growing network of river-adjacent restoration efforts along the river’s course. Park amenities include a fruit orchard, playground, multi-use pathways, and open space for gathering, exercise, and community events. These features help to create a welcoming space that fosters both environmental stewardship and neighborhood connection. In addition to Safe, Clean Water Program funding the project was made possible through funding from a variety of public sources, including Caltrans, the Trust for Public Land, LA County Regional Park and Open Space District, LA County Public Works Flood Control, San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the State Water Resources Control Board (Prop 1), and Prop 68.
For more information on the grand opening event, click here.
Regional Oversight Committee
The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) holds regular meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The next ROC meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2025. The meeting will focus on the review of Stormwater Investment Plans (SIPs) for North Santa Monica Bay, Rio Hondo, South Santa Monica Bay, Upper Los Angeles River, and Upper San Gabriel River Watershed Areas. You can review the SIPs on the FY25-26 SIPs webpage.
The ROC will also elect the Chair and Vice Chair for the next term. Upcoming 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 Report:
- Draft Report Meeting: October 8, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM – Discuss the draft 2025 Biennial Progress Report
- Draft Report Meeting: December 10, 2025, 1:00-4:00 PM – Present the draft 2025 Biennial Progress Report and initiate 30-day Public Comment Period
- Final Report Meeting: 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 FY26-27 Call for Projects Application deadline is July 31, 2025. Call for Projects Info Sessions were held May 21 and May 22. Please visit the Call for Projects webpage to access presentations slides, session recordings, a compilation of Questions and Answers, the 2025 Interim Guidance, Supplemental Guidance to Support Feasibility Study Guidelines, and more.
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. 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 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 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 Watershed Planning Team has completed the third phase of engagements with all Watershed Area Steering Committees (WASCs). During their monthly meetings, WASCs received updates on the Watershed Planning effort, including the Initial Watershed Plans, the online Planning Tool, a walkthrough of the CSNA Survey and Dashboard, and the tentative timeline for Watershed Planning implementation. Draft Initial Watershed Plans for all nine SCW Program Watershed Areas are currently in development and will be available for a 30-day public review period in late summer to early fall 2025. Updated Initial Watershed Plans will be published, and the accompanying Watershed Planning Tool will launch in early 2026.
The County Water Plan’s Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Task Force and Blue-Ribbon Panel are currently meeting regularly to develop a standard NBS definition and criteria to fill related definitional gaps. Once available, these updates will be incorporated into future Watershed Planning efforts.
Lastly, a new standalone Watershed Planning webpage has launched, where all resources related to Watershed Planning will be available.
For questions regarding the Watershed Planning effort, please email us at WatershedPlanning@pw.lacounty.gov.
Municipal Program
Fifth (FY24-25) Municipal Disbursement
FY24–25 Annual disbursements (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 have collectively received just over $85 million in local return. Annual Municipal Program local return disbursements are processed once a municipality has met all eligibility requirements.
Annual Plans
The SCW Program Municipal Program FY 2025-26 Annual Plans were due on April 1, 2025. Municipalities can use the Reporting Module’s Municipal Program tile to submit their corresponding Annual Plans as soon as possible.
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, aligning with and supporting Watershed Planning efforts as well as 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 – 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, supporting impactful education and engagement efforts on stormwater and urban runoff capture throughout the region.
The Grants Program has received an overwhelming response, with a high volume of strong and competitive applications. In Round 1, 15 approved grant proposals were awarded approximately $3.1 million. In Round 2, 19 proposals received approximately $3 million in funding. Round 3 has also seen impressive engagement, and applications are currently under review for funding. We look forward to announcing the full results of all three rounds and are excited to witness the positive impact these projects will have in communities across LA County.
You can view funded Round 1 and Round 2 Grants on the Water Foundation’s website. Thank you to all applicants for making this program a success!
Credit Trading Program
Property owners exempt from the Safe Clean Water assessment (Qualified Seller) and demonstrate stormwater improvements that provide, at minimum, water quality benefits may be eligible for the Credit Trading Program.
These 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. 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 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.