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Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP)
Within Orange County, water resource management has been structured into three (3) primary Watershed Management Areas (WMA):
At its essence, the Watershed Management Area is a collaborative framework for municipalities and special purpose agencies to work collaboratively and find synergies across water resource disciplines. Its purpose is to bring together a wide variety of water resource managers in order to achieve more comprehensive and cost effective solutions to Orange County’s water resources needs. Member agencies voluntarily enter into a cooperative agreement that forms the WMA.
Governance includes a policy committee of elected officials, the Executive Committee, to oversee each Watershed Management Area. Senior staff from each member organization form a Management Committee to develop a joint work plan and oversee its implementation. Regular stakeholder forums are held to involve the public and share information across organizations within each Watershed Management Area.
These WMA groups and respective committees meet together on a regular basis to collaborate on water resource issues, including water supply, surface water quality, flood management, wastewater, and natural resource protection. Integrated Regional Water Management Plans (IRWMPs) have been completed for each WMA. Goals and solutions specific to each Watershed Management Area are formulated through consensus with participating stakeholders. Likewise, a custom slate of projects and programs is developed to address the water resource needs of each WMA. The Central and South Orange County WMAs have existing cooperative agreements in place.
Benefits of developing and implementing an IRWMP are:
More information on the Central Orange County IRWMP may be found at www.ocwatersheds.com.
- North Orange County Watershed Management Area
- Central Orange County WMA
- South Orange County WMA
At its essence, the Watershed Management Area is a collaborative framework for municipalities and special purpose agencies to work collaboratively and find synergies across water resource disciplines. Its purpose is to bring together a wide variety of water resource managers in order to achieve more comprehensive and cost effective solutions to Orange County’s water resources needs. Member agencies voluntarily enter into a cooperative agreement that forms the WMA.
Governance includes a policy committee of elected officials, the Executive Committee, to oversee each Watershed Management Area. Senior staff from each member organization form a Management Committee to develop a joint work plan and oversee its implementation. Regular stakeholder forums are held to involve the public and share information across organizations within each Watershed Management Area.
These WMA groups and respective committees meet together on a regular basis to collaborate on water resource issues, including water supply, surface water quality, flood management, wastewater, and natural resource protection. Integrated Regional Water Management Plans (IRWMPs) have been completed for each WMA. Goals and solutions specific to each Watershed Management Area are formulated through consensus with participating stakeholders. Likewise, a custom slate of projects and programs is developed to address the water resource needs of each WMA. The Central and South Orange County WMAs have existing cooperative agreements in place.
Benefits of developing and implementing an IRWMP are:
- Enhanced collaboration across agencies and stakeholders.
- Improved responsiveness to regional needs and priorities.
- Increased efficiency and effectiveness for regional projects.
- State statute and guidelines require that before IRWM grant funds will be provided that governing boards of participating agencies must adopt the IRWM Plan.
More information on the Central Orange County IRWMP may be found at www.ocwatersheds.com.
