The California State Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Planning is the process that promotes bringing together and prioritizing water-related efforts in the region in a systematic way to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, efficient urban development, protection of agriculture, and a strong economy. IRWM incorporates the physical, environmental, societal, economic, legal, and jurisdictional aspects of water management into regional solutions through open and collaborative stakeholder processes to promote sustainable water use.
Administered by the California Department of Water Resources and California State Water Resources Control Board through bond-funded Grant Programs, IRWM encourages the development of integrated regional strategies for management of water resources by providing funding, through competitive grants.
Integrated regional water management (IRWM) was officially established by the State of California in 2002 through the passage of the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Act (SB 1672).[1]
Funding was authorized with various propositions.
These programs and funding have initiated Integrated Plans in most regions of the state. These efforts are bringing together agencies related to water in order to provide the highest-priority projects for funding and rapid completion.