The Draft Initial Watershed Plans are now available for review, the public comment period is from Aug 14th to Sep 28th. Click HERE for more information.
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Implementation Update September 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:

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!

City of Los Angeles Policy on Community-Proposed SCWP Projects

The City of Los Angeles has a new policy for community-proposed Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) projects in the Central Santa Monica Bay, Upper Los Angeles River, and South Santa Monica Bay Watershed Areas. This applies to projects proposed by nonprofits, community groups, and other non-municipal SCWP applicants. To move forward, applicants must first request a Letter of Support or Letter of Non-Objection from the City by submitting an intake form about nine months before the SCW Annual Call for Projects July 31st deadline. The deadline for the intake form is expected to be October 31st each year.  Applications include key details such as project scope, location, community benefits, operation and maintenance plans, estimated costs, and inclusion in a regional water quality improvement plan. This process helps ensure projects are reviewed fairly and are supported by relevant City departments. The policy will also improve watershed coordination and understanding of projects being proposed within the City of Los Angeles. Visit the City of LA’s website for more information.

Regional Oversight Committee

The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) holds meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The next ROC meeting is on September 10, 2025. The meeting is scheduled to include high-level comments and questions regarding Initial Watershed Plans and their use across the SCW Program. 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.

Project Modification Request

The deadline to submit a Project Modification Request (PMR) for consideration in the FY26-27 Stormwater Investment Plan is October 31, 2025.  You can view the guidelines HERE.

PMR forms will be available for submittal online in October. For updates, please visit the Guidelines for Project Modifications section on the Adaptive Management webpage.

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 FY24-25, 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) was 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, as well as 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 Draft Initial Watershed Plans are now available for public review and comment on the Watershed Planning page of the SCW Program website. Public comments may be submitted until September 28, 2025. The Plans consist of the following:

  • Unique, collaboratively developed and customized strategic plans for each of the 9 Watershed Areas, including Executive Summaries
  • 7 Chapters and 14 Appendices
  • Chapters 2-5 (throughline chapters detailing baselines, targets, and opportunities)

The figure below outlines the main components of the Draft Initial Watershed Plans, along with the key inputs and outcomes of the overall Watershed Planning effort.

For more information on the Draft Initial Watershed Plans, please refer to the Initial Watershed Plan Fact Sheet. Updated Plans will be published, and the online companion Watershed Planning Tool (currently in beta version) will launch, in early 2026.

Additionally, Public Notice has been provided about a proposed Addendum to the SCW Program’s Feasibility Study Guidelines (FSG), which adds a 20th requirement to the existing 19 FSG requirements. The 20th requirement will require that Infrastructure Program applicants describe how their proposed projects align with the Initial Watershed Plans. Comments on this Addendum can be shared by visiting the Watershed Planning webpage until September 28, 2025.

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) have been completed for municipalities that met all eligibility requirements. A total of 77 cities received over $95 million collectively in local return. Disbursements from the Annual Municipal Program are processed once a municipality fulfills all eligibility criteria.

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 13 ROC meeting, there was an update on the District Education Programs, including the Grants Program. Detailed information about funded projects from all three rounds is available on the Water Foundation’s website. These projects are already making a positive impact across LA County communities. 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 who demonstrate stormwater improvements that provide at least water quality benefits may be eligible to participate in the Credit Trading Program. Qualified Sellers looking to generate TCTUs shall submit their application and Engineer’s Report to the Online Application and Recertification by September 30, 2025.

Credit Program

Property owners who are exempt from the Safe Clean Water assessment (Qualified Sellers) and who demonstrate stormwater improvements that provide at least water quality benefits may be eligible to participate in the Credit Trading Program. Qualified Sellers looking to generate TCTUs shall submit their application and Engineer’s Report to the Online Application and Recertification by September 30, 2025.

Low Income Senior Owned (LISO) and General Income Based Tax Reduction (GIBTR)

Applications for the FY26-27 Low-Income Senior-Owned (LISO)Tax Exemption and General Income-Based Tax Reduction (GIBTR) application forms are now available at:

FY 2026–27 LISO Application Form

FY 2026–27 GIBTR Application Form

Applications are due May 1, 2026.