The south orange county watershed management area (WMA) encompasses the SAN juan hydrologic unit (sjhu) in the southernmost portion of the county of orange, south of newport beach and north of SAN…

OC Public Works (Orange County Public Works Department) received a $357,000 Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation under the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CFDA 15.554), awarded November 28, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. The grant funds the development and implementation of a comprehensive and targeted outreach and engagement strategy designed to meaningfully connect with tribal, disadvantaged community (DAC), and underrepresented populations within the South Orange County Watershed Management Area (encompassing the San Juan Hydrologic Unit). This initiative addresses a significant stakeholder engagement gap that has persisted despite nearly 20 years of activity by the South OC Integrated Regional Water Management Group.

The project deliverables include the design and execution of an engagement strategy that will foster watershed project input and support from all community stakeholders while communicating project needs across diverse populations including local cities, water districts, nonprofits, environmental organizations, regulatory agencies, and residents. By expanding participation and ensuring inclusive community involvement in watershed planning, the project aims to address the region's two most critical water management priorities—increasing water supply reliability and improving water quality—while ensuring that future watershed projects benefit all community members and accelerate achievement of regional water-related goals.

The south orange county watershed management area (WMA) encompasses the SAN juan hydrologic unit (sjhu) in the southernmost portion of the county of orange, south of newport beach and north of SAN diego county. Tribal and disadvantaged community (DAC) engagement remains a GAP in stakeholder connection despite the south orange county integrated regional water management group?s (south OC irwm group ? The existing watershed group in the region) nearly 20-year history and prior attempts to connect with these populations. The county seeks to meaningfully engage with tribal, DAC, and other underrepresented groups through the proposed project by developing and implementing a comprehensive and targeted outreach and engagement strategy. The partners involved with this effort will include local cities, water districts, non-profits and environmental organizations, the local groundwater basin authority, regulatory agencies, real estate development groups, hoas, and local residents (the other members of the south OC irwm group). Currently, the two most critical needs in the south OC WMA, are increasing water supply reliability and improving water quality. The project will help alleviate impacts of these concerns by fostering watershed project input and support from and communicating project needs to all community stakeholders. This will help ensure future watershed projects benefit all community members to the greatest extent possible and help the south OC irwm group achieve their water-related goals faster.