Inyo‑Mono IRWM group offers outreach, disadvantaged‑community support to Indian Wells Valley

A representative of the Inyo‑Mono Integrated Regional Water Management program reviewed the region’s IRWM history, funding and project work and offered to help Indian Wells Valley with outreach, technical assistance and grant support.

Holly, representing the Inyo‑Mono IRWM (introduced by staff as the IRWM presenter), told the board the program is administered by the California Department of Water Resources and grew from Proposition 50 and Proposition 84 efforts; the regional group has received multiple planning and implementation grants and now has a Prop. 1 disadvantaged‑community grant that is funding outreach and technical needs assessments. Holly said the IRWM regions are self‑formed and that the Inyo‑Mono region includes stakeholders from Inyo and Mono counties plus some participating communities to the south, including representatives from Ridgecrest who asked to join earlier.

What she offered Holly said the IRWM program can: (a) help with outreach and engagement in disadvantaged communities, (b) offer technical needs assessments and operator training tied to continuing education credits, (c) provide limited project development funds for planning (engineering, CEQA) and (d) help with SGMA (GSA) support. She described a current disadvantaged‑community grant (roughly a three‑year grant under Prop. 1) that prioritizes outreach to low‑income communities and technical assistance to small water systems.

Board reaction and next steps Board members asked whether the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority or local GSAs are signatories to the IRWM memorandum of understanding; Holly said the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority has signed the MOU and that becoming a signatory does not carry a financial obligation but does represent a voluntary commitment to participate. Board members asked whether the IRWM could perform grant management. Holly said the IRWM presently manages IRWM grants and state grants and is familiar with state grant administration challenges; she offered to talk further with staff about whether the IRWM could take on grant management for particular projects and provide a cost estimate.

Local follow‑up The board agreed to have Holly exchange contact information with the Authority’s staff and the District’s project leads to discuss outreach coordination and potential grant administration. Holly confirmed she would provide an electronic copy of the presentation for posting on the Authority website.

Ending note Holly emphasized that IRWM has prioritized disadvantaged communities and tribes in the region’s project selection and that IRWM members have repeatedly found direct, on‑site outreach and repeated contact to be important in building trust and delivering projects for small water systems.