Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM)

California's Integrated Regional Water Management Act of 2002 set forth a new way of thinking about water resource planning by promoting Integrated Regional Water Management plans (IRWMPs) to increase collaboration between local agencies. The goal is to ensure sustainable water uses, reliable water supplies, better water quality, environmental stewardship, efficient urban development, protection of agriculture, and a stronger regional economy. Administered by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), the California IRWM Program encourages creation of Regional Water Management Groups (RWMGs) and the use of collaborative processes to develop IRWMPs which target regional water resource issues. DWR supports and promotes the integrated regional planning work of RWMGs by providing funding through competitive planning and Implementation Project grants.

The MAC IRWM Region

The Mokelumne-Amador-Calaveras (MAC) IRWM planning effort was initiated in 2006 as a cooperative effort between area water agencies and organized by Amador Water Agency. In 2009, the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority assumed lead agency responsibilities with respect to the MAC Region IRWM program. In fulfilling this RWMG role, UMRWA established the Regional Participants Committee (RPC). The RPC is a committee of city, county, special district, non-governmental organizations, and federal agency stakeholders which provided essential input and guidance to the development of the DWR-certified 2013 MAC Plan Update. The RPC has a continuing role in both maintaining the Plan's list of implementation projects and programs, and in preparing future Plan updates whenever such updates are deemed appropriate.

In 2016, the Department of Water Resources updated the standards for Integrated Regional Water Management Plans (IRWMPs). To meet these new requirements, and to maintain grant funding eligibility, the MAC Region, led by the Regional Participants Committee, prepared the 2018 MAC Plan Update. In 2021, in preparation for Proposition 1 Round 2 IRWM funding, the Region updated its project list and captured these updates in the 2022 Addendum. Both the Final 2018 Plan and the 2022 Addendum are available here.