The tuolumne-stanislaus integrated regional water management collaborative, in partnership with the tuolumne county resource conservation district, will update their existing water management plan…

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded $155,363 to the Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District on September 3, 2025, under the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CFDA 15.554) to update the regional water management plan for the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Collaborative. The primary deliverable is a comprehensive updated water management plan covering 2,700 square miles across multiple watersheds on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada near Modesto, California. The plan will identify and prioritize high-impact actions to address critical water-related challenges in the region, including aging surface water conveyance infrastructure and water supply sustainability concerns, with the project scheduled for completion by March 31, 2028.

The collaborative partnership includes local special districts, tribal governments, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations working collectively on water quality and supply, water and land use management integration, resource stewardship, and ecosystem protection. As a grassroots watershed group initiative, this funding supports the development of consensus-based, collaborative solutions among diverse stakeholders to enhance local water supply sustainability through strategic infrastructure investment and integrated regional planning.

The tuolumne-stanislaus integrated regional water management collaborative, in partnership with the tuolumne county resource conservation district, will update their existing water management plan with the goals of increasing water supply sustainability though investment in local infrastructure. The plan encompasses multiple watersheds across 2,700 square miles on the western slope of the sierra nevada near modesto, california. Surface water resources are the primary source of potable water for residents. However, 98% of these water supplies are provided to users outside the region. Additionally, the surface water conveyance systems are aging many were built in the second half of the 19TH century. The updated regional plan will outline high-priority actions to collaboratively address the many major water-related challenges and needs within the basin. The collaborative includes local special districts, tribes, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations that collectively work on issues of water quality and supply, integration of water and land use management, resource stewardship and ecosystem protection.