1. Disadvantaged & Small Systems Assistance Program
IRWM Disadvantaged Community and Tribal Involvement “Lessons Learned” Summit
November 8-9, 2019
Disadvantaged & Small Systems Assistance Program

2. So… We updated our IRWMP!
How This Came About
We had a pretty good IRWMP
During the Prop. 84 process DWR encouraged regions to update their IRWMs
Include: Climate Change
Include: Disadvantaged Communities
Proposition funds were used to motivate
DWR motivated by holding onto your check…
So… We updated our IRWMP!

3. US Census American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Data: 2010 – 2014
DAC = MHI of $49,191
SDAC = MHI of $36,893

4. US Census American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Data: 2010 – 2014
DAC = MHI of $49,191
SDAC = MHI of $36,893

5. New Mojave IRWM Adopted Objectives

6. New Mojave IRWM Adopted Objectives

7. The State is Getting Serious about DAC’s via Proposition 1 Funding
Proposition 1 = $7.5 Billion Dollars to Spend on CA Water Projects

8. “OK State… We Found Our Under-represented DACs…” “We Don’t Do This Kind of Work, Now What???” We Looked for Partners
Visit:

9. Avenue of Help: Small Systems Seeking Support
MWA
Funding
Small Systems Sub-Committee to the IRWM
Contact Small Water System
(DAC)
Needs Assessments & Trainings (TMF)
CRWA Analysis
If Wanted/Needed, Build a Plan for Long Term Sustainability and Look for Funding
Funding Opportunities for Project Needs
Project Implementation

10. Small Systems Program Design
Public/Private partnership to deliver services MWA can’t – We needed help (ability, longevity, perception) 1
CRWA will first do a Needs Assessment covering all bases of TMF: Technical, Managerial, Financial 2
From the Needs Assessment CRWA may recommend a variety of tasks. Examples (Rate study, energy analysis, conservation plan, leak detection, corporate compliance review, master plan) 3
These things are all intended to position the system for a pre-application for funding from a variety of sources 4

11. Small Systems Accomplishments (~3 years)
Conducted 21 Needs Assessments throughout our service area
First step for grant applications
9 Corporate Reviews completed/in progress
Articles of incorporation, Bylaws and rules and regulation review
8 planning grant applications submitted to the CA SRF and Proposition 1, two planning grants awarded

12. Small Systems Accomplishments (~5 years)
MWA funded total = $652,158 Awarded grant total = $5,860,690 Each $1 dollar invested, yields $8.98 in grant dollars Funding sources = MWA, SRF, SWRCB, DWR and Prop. 1 TA 20 needs assessments completed 5 wastewater needs assessments completed 5 conservation plans completed 10 corporate compliance reviews completed 9 SRF planning grants awarded to SWS Conducted over 350 visits to SWS to perform TMF 3 Median Household Income surveys performed 19 half/full Day Workshops – Free to Attendees 27 leak detection survey’s completed (4 SWSAP, 23 Prop. 84) 6 sampling plans completed 6 Master Plans completed 10 Rate Studies conducted

13. Takeaway’s
Challenging to bridge the gap between funding sources and needs of smaller DACs 1
Local non-regulatory leadership is important (for us) 2
Partnerships (Multi-Agency Public, Regulatory, and Private) and trust are needed (as well as a sage, cheerleader, helicopter parent, Dutch Uncle & therapist) 3

14. Takeaway’s
Local successes validate the program to other DACs and yes… “You CAN survive the grant process!” and funding is beginning to come in… Consistently (& that is only part of the process)… 4
The region and appears to be working better as a group rather than individual systems
Which includes locals discussing consolidation… 5
IS: Partnering with DACs to bring systems up to standard, along with education to ensure long term sustainable self reliance
NOT: Replacement/refurbish systems and set up to fail due to lack of Technical, Managerial & Financial (TMF) expertise of systems 6
Manage expectations. Smaller systems are often guarded and provincial. The technical part is easy, people are hard. This is a long process and not everybody will want to participate… at least at first. 7

15. Thank You Lance Eckhart, PG, CHG
Director of Basin Management & Resource Planning
Mojave Water Agency
(760)
Thank You

16. The Model has Caught On…
Lahontan Funding Area Employing This Model DAC IRWM Prop. 1 Funds for Lahontan Funding Area ($2.45M) Utilized Using A Non-Profit Focused on Suite of Services