Integrated Regional Water Management

Notice of Release of the San Luis Obispo Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Public Draft

Author: Public Works
Date: 2/19/2020 11:15:49 AM

Members of the public are invited to provide comment on the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan public draft published on February 19, 2020. The draft review period will be 30 days. Public comments will be accepted until March 20, 2020.

The IRWM program seeks to create a framework among SLO County Stakeholders for sustainable water resource management. The IRWM program is used to inventory and facilitate regional plans, programs, and projects that promote and practice integrated regional water management strategies to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, and watershed awareness in accordance with State guidelines.

The San Luis Obispo County IRWM Region created the original IRWM Plan in 2005 and updated it in 2007 and 2014. With the passage of Proposition 1 (2014), additional requirements were placed on IRWM Plans and programs. In order to be eligible for Proposition 1 grant funds, IRWM Plans are required to be updated to these additional requirements. This 2019 IRWM Plan public draft incorporates recent data and planning efforts of local agencies and addresses the Proposition 1 requirements. Once the 2019 IRWM Plan is adopted, eligible entities within the San Luis Obispo County Region will be able to accept Proposition 1 IRWM grant funds.

Access Public Draft IRWM Plan: Interested stakeholders are encouraged to review the plan, attend the public presentation, and submit comments.  The public draft is available on the County’s website www.slocounty.ca.gov/irwm click “IRWM Plan”).

Access Public Draft Presentation: The San Luis Obispo County Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) will be hosting a Public Draft Presentation on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Community Room of the SLO City/County Library, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. See map for location.

How to Submit Public Comments: Submit comments via email or hard copy to Lucia Mercado at: [email protected] or County Department of Public Works, Attn: Lucia Mercado, County Government Center, Room 206, San Luis Obispo, CA  93408. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m., March 20, 2020.

IRWM Plan Adoption:  The RWMG Lead Agency, San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) Board of Supervisors, will consider adoption in June 2020. Notice will be sent out closer to this date.

For more information on the IRWM Program, to see the next scheduled meeting or to view draft documents, please visit the County’s IRWM website: www.slocounty.ca.gov/irwm