California announces water efficiency funding

May 21, 2015

About $10 million being made available

In an effort to promote water efficiency and enhancement, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP).

About $10 million will be made available for SWEEP, which is being authorized by the state’s emergency drought legislation. The current United States drought monitor shows that almost the entire state of California is under some level of drought – affecting more than 37 million people.

Grants

The money will be used as competitive grant funding to provide financial help to implement irrigation systems aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and saving water at California agricultural operations.

CDFA will host application workshops to give applicants more information about program and application requirements.

The workshops will take place:

Sacramento - May 28, 2015
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
1220 N St., Auditorium
Sacramento, CA 95814

San Martin- June 1, 2015
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner's Office
80 W. Highland Avenue, Building K
San Martin, CA 95046

Tulare- June 2, 2015
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
4437 S Laspina
Tulare, CA 93274

Ventura- June 3, 2015
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Ventura County Cooperative Extension
669 County Square Dr., Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003

Oroville – June 9, 2015
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Butte County Farm Bureau
2580 Feather River Blvd.
Oroville CA 95965

Applications must be submitted using the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool and must do so by Friday, June 29, 2015 by 5:00pm PDT.

Tell us your thoughts on California making nearly $10 million available for water saving initiatives. Is it something you would consider applying for? What kind of measures would you take to save water?

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