What is Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM)?

Feb 17, 2021 at 8:00am

Maven's Notebook

Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) is an initiative led by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) that seeks to support collaborative efforts among agencies, NGOs, Tribes, and stakeholders within a region that identify and implement water management solutions to increase regional self-reliance, reduce conflict, and manage water to achieve multiple objectives. Integrated Regional Water Management has the potential to deliver higher value for investments by considering all interests, providing multiple benefits, and working across jurisdictional boundaries.

But what exactly is Integrated Regional Water Management (or IRWM)?  In September of 2020, a webinar hosted by the IRWM Roundtable of Regions and the Local Government Commission covered the basics of the program, how it works, the benefits, the implementation, and success stories from regions across the state.

THE BASICS OF INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT

Lynn Rodriguez describes herself as an enthusiastic water resource management professional since 1981.  She currently manages the Watersheds Coalition of the Ventura County IRWM program, and she serves as the co-chair of the IRWM Roundtable of Regions.  Mark Stadler is the principal water resource specialist at the San Diego County Water Authority, where he has managed the San Diego IRWM program since 2007.  He also serves as the co-chair of the IRWM Roundtable of Regions.  They opened up the webinar with a presentation on the basics of Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM).

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