This bill proposes the establishment of the Rural Watershed Sustainability Initiative Fund, which will be administered by the department and consist of legislative appropriations. The fund will allow the department to accept federal funds and private contributions, and it will be exempt from lapsing provisions. Additionally, the department may allocate up to fifteen percent of the fund for administrative purposes, including hiring additional staff as needed. Grants will be provided to local watershed groups in rural areas to support their administrative and operational needs, which encompass a range of expenses from staff training to technology and grant application fees.

Furthermore, the bill outlines eligibility criteria for watershed groups to apply for project funding, prioritizing those with clear goals for water conservation and those located in critically depleted groundwater basins. The department is tasked with adopting rules for the implementation of this section, including application criteria and reporting requirements. An appropriation of $500,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 is also included, which is exempt from lapsing provisions, addressing the identified funding gap for local rural watershed groups to enhance water conservation efforts and resilience against drought impacts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 45-119