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:
- June 11, 2025 – Regional Oversight Committee Meeting
- July 31, 2025 – FY26-27 Call for Projects Deadline
How to Get Involved
Looking for ways to get involved with the Safe, Clean Water Program? Here’s a quick tip on how you can stay engaged and make a meaningful impact.
Connect with your Watershed Coordinator
Watershed Coordinators represent each Watershed Area and serve as ambassadors who connect with community members, host educational workshops, and support the development of SCW Program-funded projects. They are here to support you – from project idea to implementation and beyond.
Have questions about the program or a project concept? Not sure where to start? Reach out to your Watershed Coordinator!
Find your Watershed and corresponding Watershed Coordinator HERE.
Additionally, you can visit our calendar to discover upcoming community events in your area. Whether you’re looking to attend a workshop, public meeting, or ribbon-cutting ceremony, the calendar is a great resource to see what’s happening near you. It’s an easy way to stay involved, connect with others, and support local initiatives – and who knows, you might even run into your Watershed Coordinator while you’re there!
Project Highlight
Edward Vincent Jr. Park Stormwater Improvements Project
The Edward Vincent Jr. Park Stormwater Improvements Project, located in the Central Santa Monica Bay Watershed, is bringing nature back to the heart of the community! Led by and located in the City of Inglewood, in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, this revitalization effort will reintroduce the historic Centinela Creek and implement nature-based solutions to improve water quality and support groundwater recharge. The project’s bioretention and infiltration features will manage runoff from an 857-acre drainage area, capturing up to 45.7 acre-feet of water and reducing pollutants – such as metals, bacteria, trash, and suspended solids – by more than 80%.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project will enhance park amenities with shaded gathering spaces, restored creek pathways, and educational signage. These improvements reflect community input and aim to increase access to green space and natural waterways. The project received $300,000 in Technical Resources Program funding in FY 2020- 2021 and $4.3 million in Safe, Clean Water Program funding in FY 2022–2023. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.
The City of Inglewood is actively engaging park users and community members to help shape the design and experience of Edward Vincent Jr. Park. They will host their fourth and final community workshop on June 16, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. To learn more, visit the City of Inglewood’s website.
Regional Oversight Committee
TThe Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) holds regular meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The next ROC meeting is scheduled for June 11th. The meeting will focus on review of Stormwater Investment Plans (SIPs) for Central Santa Monica Bay, Lower Los Angeles River, Lower San Gabriel River, and Santa Clara River Watershed Areas. You can review the SIPs on the FY25-26 SIPs webpage.
There will also be an update regarding progress in achieving the Adaptive Management actions called for in the March 19, 2024 Board Motion for the SCW Program. Upcoming meeting details will be posted on the ROC events webpage as they become available.
Please 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 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 21st and May 22nd. Please visit the Call for Projects webpage for Info Session presentations slides, recording links, 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 has been posted. It provides a high-level overview of recent funding policy highlights and includes a funding matrix outlining currently active and upcoming funding opportunities relevant to SCW Program infrastructure projects. An updated report will be provided quarterly for participants in the SCW Program. You may access the latest funding 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 FY2024-25.
Please note the following due dates for recent and upcoming Regional Program Reports:
- FY 2024-25 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.
- FY 2024-25 Annual Report (covering expenditures and progress between July 2024 and June 2025) is due on August 15, 2025.
The new Metrics & Measures section is available as a tile in the Regional Program Reporting Module. This section collects data for metrics specific to projects in the planning, design, construction, and post-construction phases. It aligns with and informs Watershed Planning efforts and program-wide progress assessments. Project Developers with Projects in the planning phase should provide data predicting project performance. While those with projects in design, construction, or post-construction phases should provide data reflecting their project’s design or implementation.
Adaptive Management
Watershed Planning
The Watershed Planning Team has completed the third phase of engagements with the majority of the Watershed Area Steering Committees (WASCs). During their monthly meetings, WASCs were presented with updates on the Watershed Planning effort, including a progress report on the Initial Watershed Plans and the online Planning Tool, a walkthrough exercise 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 2025. Updated Initial Watershed Plans will be published and the accompanying Watershed Planning Tool will launch in early 2026.
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 the 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 Metrics & Measures section is now also available as a new tile in the Municipal Program Reporting Module. This section collects data for performance metrics specific to Municipal Program projects to align with and inform Watershed Planning efforts and program-wide progress assessments.
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 is 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 overwhelming interest and a high volume of strong applications. In Round 1, 15 approved grant proposals were awarded approximately $3.1 million. Subsequent rounds have also seen impressive engagement and are currently being reviewed and awarded grant funds. We look forward to announcing funded Round 2 and Round 3 proposals and are excited to see the positive impact these projects will have in communities across LA County.
You can view funded Round 1 Grants on the Water Foundation’s website. Thank you to all applicants for making this program a success!
Credit Trading Program
The Credit Trading Program will allow eligible parcels to generate, sell, or purchase credits that can be applied toward 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 beginning to accept applications to generate and sell credits in Summer 2025.
For more information on the Credit Trading Program and the Stakeholder Workshop held last year, please refer to: Tax Information, Forms & Tools.
Credit Program
The SCW 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.