Is IRWM More Than a Grant Machine?

Sustaining and Enhancing Regional Collaboration

Lynn RodriguezWatersheds Coalition of Ventura County

Southern California Water DialogueSeptember 28, 2011

Is it all about the money?

IRWM programs are about:A new way of approaching water

managementInterconnectedness and collaborationProjects that are multi-disciplinary and multi-

benefitBuilding trust and relationshipsGrant fundingNew ways to resolve challenges and conflictsShared knowledge and resources

Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County – IRWM Region

Pay to Play?

What’s your role? What’s my role?

Coordination?

Schedule?

Everyone at the table?

$$$ for planning?

In-house? Whose house? Hire a consultant?

Project priorities?What makes a region?

Developing the Game Plan 2002

How do we slice the pie?

How can we meet the deadlines?

Who takes the lead?

Ventura County HighlightsMicrocosm of the water issues facing the statePopulation 823,0001,843 square miles50% in National Forest330,000 acres of Ag land (125,000 acres irrigated)Ag products valued at $1.5 billion3 major watersheds10 cities65% Groundwater - 25% Imported state water - 8% Surface

water

More Than $43 Million in Grant Funding Secured

2006 – Prop 50 Planning Grant $220,0002007 – Prop 50 Implementation Grant $25 million2011 – Prop 84 Planning Grant $485,6842011 – Prop 84 Implementation Grant $17.5 million

Total Grant Funding Awarded $43,216,283Local Funding and Match $60,666,823TOTAL $103,883,106

How we succeedUnity, diversity, and leadershipLong history of collaborationProjects and programs integrated within and

across local watershedsCollaboration throughout watersheds and

across IRWM boundaries - in spite of political boundaries and political differences

Lessons learnedIt’s not all about the moneyIt is all about relationships and trustBalance perspectives of diverse stakeholder

interestsThere is no such thing as too much

communication

What’s next for our region?Update IRWM PlanImprove data access – GIS and web-based Implement projects in IRWM PlanEnhance watershed-level planning efforts with all

stakeholdersIncrease collaboration with partners both in and

adjacent to WCVC regionSeek diverse sources of funding

More……Re-energize regional water management group(s) - keep

them engaged in shared future visionTake the message and information to other community

groups – outreach to DACs, tribes, others

Water Quality

Surface Water

Land Acquisition

Habitat IRWM Plan

Regulations

Climate Change Research

Groundwater

Stakeholders

Integrated Regional Water Management

Land Use Practices

Stormwater

Water Supply

Infrastructure

Recreation

Questions?Visit us on the web..

(www.watershedscoalition.org)