Merced IRWMP

Welcome

Welcome to the Merced Integrated Regional Water Management website—your information source regarding actions to improve coordination and management of water resources to meet the future needs of the Merced region.

About the Program

The Merced Integrated Regional Water Management (Merced IRWM) program is a collaborative effort to identify water management issues, needs, objectives, actions, and priorities to meet the long-term water needs of the Merced Region─ the area of Merced County east of the San Joaquin River (Additional information can be found by clicking on Region Description here. The City of Merced, County of Merced, and Merced Irrigation District have joined together to lead the program, which is funded by a grant from the California Department of Water Resources under Proposition 50. Other participants in the program are listed on the Participation page. The three governing entities comprise the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG). They expect to complete the Merced IRWM Plan, which is being developed consistent with state guidelines, by June 2013. Once the Plan is complete, the Merced Region will be eligible to compete for additional state grants to support local and regional projects. The planning process underway now will identify projects and programs to address regional water needs, including surface water, groundwater, water quality, wastewater management, flood management, recreation, and natural resources.

An Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan is developed through eight steps:

Establish a Regional Governance Structure
Identify Regional Needs, Objectives, and Performance Measures
Identify Regional Projects and Programs
Evaluate Impacts and Benefits
Prioritize Projects and Programs
Secure Funding
Implement Projects
Monitor Results and Adapt the Program

Merced Region IRWM Objective	Performance Measures
A. Manage flood flows for public safety, water supply, recharge, and natural resource management	Occurrence of flooding at the Bear Creek, Black Rascal Creek diversion, Deadman Creek, Dry Creek, Fahrens Creek, Lake Yosemite, Mariposa Creek, Merced River, and San Joaquin River Volume of flood water stored and / or recharged Flood-related damages (extent and frequency)
B. Meet demands for all uses, including agriculture, urban, and environmental resource needs.	Curtailment of voluntary and/or mandatory water use restrictions Stability of groundwater levels Ability to meet instream flow requirements
C. Correct groundwater overdraft conditions.	Groundwater surface elevation Volume of water recharged Reduction in groundwater subsidence Improvement in groundwater quality
D. Improve coordination of land use and water resources planning.	Number of cooperative planning meetings held between land use and water resource planning entities Number of General Plans with water resource elements
E. Maximize water use efficiency.	Estimated annual savings from demand management programs Volume of water per year put to beneficial reuse Percent of water users with meters and commodity pricing Urban per capita water use (in accordance with provisions of SBx7-7)
F. Protect and improve water quality for all beneficial uses, consistent with the Basin Plan.	New 303(d) listings and / or delistings Surface water and groundwater quality
G. Protect, restore, and improve natural resources.	Acres of habitat protection / restoration / enhancement completed Development trends in the largest and most ecologically sensitive areas of Merced County (including the Merced and San Joaquin River corridors and Eastside Grasslands)
H. Address water-related needs of disadvantaged communities (DACs).	Programs implemented that focus on meeting critical water-related needs of DACs Percent of population with drinking water that complies with all applicable standards
I. Protect and enhance water-associated recreation opportunities.	Number of programs that include water-associated recreation opportunities
J. Establish and maintain effective communication among water resource stakeholders in the Region.	Number of stakeholders or their representatives and members of the public attending IRWM-related meetings Number of collaborative projects jointly implemented by multiple entities
K. Effectively address climate change adaptation and/or mitigation in water resource management.	Number of projects implemented that address climate change
L. Enhance public understanding of water management issues and needs.	Number of educational programs / number of people participating in water-focused educational events in the Region

News & Events

Adoption Schedule Update

The following agencies are planning to consider the Merced IRWMP for adoption in November:

City of Merced City Council – November 4, 2013
Merced Irrigation District Board of Directors – November 5, 2013
Merced County Board of Supervisors – November 5, 2013
City Atwater City Council – November 12, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Notice of Intent to Adopt the Merced Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

RAC Meeting #14

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Merced Region Water Management Public Meetings (June 25-26, 2013)

1. Merced
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Meeting Agenda

Location
Sam Pipes Room
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95349

2. Winton
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Meeting Agenda

Location
Winton Community Hall
7091 W. Walnut Avenue
Winton, CA 95388

3. Livingston
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Meeting Agenda

Location
Livingston City Council Chambers
1416 "C" Street
Livingston, CA 95334

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

RAC Meeting #13

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 22, 2013

RAC Meeting #12

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

RAC Meeting #11

Meeting Agenda

Location
Public Health Auditorium
1st floor of the Department of Public Health
260 E. 15th Street
Merced, CA 95341

Time
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

RAC Meeting #10

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Merced Region Water Management Public Workshop

Location
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School
161 Plainsburg Road
Planada, CA 95365

Time
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Tuesday January 22, 2013

RAC Meeting #9

Meeting Agenda

Location
Public Health Auditorium
1st floor of the Department of Public Health
260 E. 15th Street
Merced, CA 95341

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tuesday December 18, 2012

RAC Meeting #8

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tuesday November 27, 2012

RAC Meeting #7

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tuesday October 23, 2012

RAC Meeting #6

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Call for Projects – October 9 through November 6

The City of Merced, the County of Merced, and the Merced Irrigation District (Regional Water Management Group) have announced a "Call for Projects" to identify projects that could improve water management for the region. Project proposals are due November 6. Proposals can be submitted online at the 'Projects' tab after October 9 or applications are available at the following locations:

• Merced Civic Center, 678 West 18th Street, Merced

• Merced County Division of Environmental Health, 260 East 15th Street, Merced

• Merced Irrigation District, 744 W. 20th Street, Merced

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Merced Region Water Management Public Workshop

Location
Livingston City Council Chambers
1416 "C" Street
Livingston, CA 95334

Time
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Tuesday September 25, 2012

RAC Meeting #5

Meeting Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tuesday August 28, 2012

Integrated Flood Management Technical Workshop and RAC Meeting #4

Technical Workshop Agenda
RAC Meeting 4 Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Time
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm (Flood Workshop)
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (RAC Meeting #4)

Thursday August 16, 2012

Merced Region Water Management Public Workshop

Workshop Agenda

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st Floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA

Time
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

To encourage and accommodate public participation in the development and implementation of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) the City of Merced, County of Merced and Merced Irrigation District are conducting a public workshop and listening session regarding water management issues in the Merced Region.

This meeting is open to the public. To request assistance with special accommodations, contact

Merced Irrigation District
Phone: (209) 722-5761
Fax: (209) 722-6421
Email: irwmp@mercedid.org

Tuesday July 24, 2012

Merced Region Water Management Workshop Series and Regional Advisory Committee Meeting #3

Location
The Sam Pipes Room
1st floor of the Civic Center (City Hall)
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Join us for four one-hour workshops on important water management issues in the Merced Region: Water Conservation, Groundwater Recharge, Salt and Nutrient Management, and Climate Change.

Merced Region Water Management Workshop Series and Regional Advisory Committee Meeting #3

The Merced Region has embarked on development of an Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan, which will identify multi-benefit approaches to address the Region's water management needs and objectives both now and in the future. In order to develop a Plan that is well-balanced and represents the interests of water users throughout the region, the Merced Regional Water Management Group is hosting a series of workshops focused on water management in the Region. Workshop attendees will learn about the water supply and water quality challenges facing the Merced Region, and will have an opportunity to make sure their issues and objectives are captured and reflected in the Region's Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. Four one-hour workshops will be held, followed by a regularly-scheduled meeting of the Regional Advisory Committee to the IRWM Plan:

9 am - 10 am:	Water Conservation
10 am - 11 am:	Groundwater Recharge
11 am - 12 pm:	Salt and Nutrient Management
1 pm - 2 pm:	Climate Change and Water Resources
2 pm - 5 pm:	Regional Advisory Committee Meeting #3

These meetings are open to the public and anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend. Please check back for meeting agendas, which will be posted at least three days in advance of the meetings.

The Regional Water Management group is seeking local or regional projects that could improve water management for the Merced Region. Projects will be evaluated for inclusion in the IRWM Plan. The IRWM Plan will comply with guidelines established by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which will increase the Region’s eligibility for state grant funding to implement projects.

To encourage and accommodate public participation in the development and implementation of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), the City of Merced, County of Merced and Merced Irrigation District are conducting a public workshop regarding water management issues in the Merced Region. The focus will be on identifying projects to improve water management. During the workshop the IRWMP Team will work with local agencies, community organizations, and the public to discuss project ideas and describe the application and review process for including projects in the Plan.

These meetings are open to the public. To request assistance with special accommodations, contact:

Merced Irrigation District
Phone: (209) 722-5761
Fax: (209) 722-6421
Email: irwmp@mercedid.org

To encourage and accommodate public participation in the development and implementation of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), the County of Merced, City of Merced, and Merced Irrigation District are conducting a public workshop regarding water management issues in the Merced Region. The focus will be on the status of regional planning activities, including five technical studies regarding flood management, groundwater recharge, water conservation, salt and nutrient management, and climate change. The IRWMP Team will also review the list of more than 60 projects submitted to improve regional water management and a grant proposal to the California Department of Water Resources to fund project implementation. During the workshop, the IRWMP Team and community members of the Regional Advisory Committee will provide information about the planning process and answer questions.

These meetings are open to the public. To request assistance with special accommodations, contact:

Merced Irrigation District
Phone: (209) 722-5761
Fax: (209) 722-6421
Email: irwmp@mercedid.org

The County of Merced, City of Merced, and Merced Irrigation District are conducting three public meetings regarding the draft Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan, which is now available for public review. The Draft IRWM Plan is the result of more than a year of work among water management agencies and the Regional Advisory Committee of community representatives. The plan describes the water management needs and objectives for the Merced region and lists more than 70 projects to address water supply, water quality, groundwater and wastewater management, flood control, conservation, natural resources, and recreation.

Written comments are due July 19, 2013 to Hicham ElTal, Merced Irrigation District, 744 W. 20th Street, Merced, CA 95340, Fax: (209) 722-6421, or comments@mercedirwmp.org.

The draft IRWM Plan will be available for download from the project website on June 18, 2013. Additional information is also available on the project website, www.mercedirwmp.org.

These meetings are open to the public. To request assistance with special accommodations, contact:

Merced Irrigation District
Phone: (209) 722-5761
Fax: (209) 722-6421

Notice of Intent to Adopt the Merced Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

The Merced Region recently completed its first Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), which will provide a framework for integrated water resources management in the Region. The Merced Irrigation District (MID), County of Merced, and City of Merced will each consider the Merced IRWMP for adoption during meetings of their Boards and Council in October and November. Other agencies who were involved in the development of the plan or who wish to show their support for the Merced IRWMP may also adopt the Merced IRWMP.

The following boards and councils have scheduled consideration of approval of the Merced Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan:

Planada Community Services District – September 17, 2013
East Merced Resources Conservation District – September 19, 2013
Merced Irrigation District Board of Directors – October 15, 2013
Merced County Board of Supervisors – October 22, 2013
City of Merced City Council – November 4, 2013

Please note that these dates are subject to change. Please continue to check this website for the latest information on approval consideration.