{"id":683,"date":"2026-03-10T17:04:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourwaterla.org\/?p=683"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:17:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:17:46","slug":"strengthening-scwp-for-communities-and-watersheds-with-the-2026-biennial-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourwaterla.org\/es\/strengthening-scwp-for-communities-and-watersheds-with-the-2026-biennial-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening SCWP for Communities and Watersheds with the 2026 Biennial Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) has the potential to deliver transformative, watershed-scale benefits for water quality, water supply, climate resilience, and community well-being. As the Program continues to grow, the SCWP Biennial Progress Report represents an important opportunity to strengthen transparency, governance, long-term financial planning, and equitable access. On February 14, 2026, the OurWaterLA (OWLA) coalition submitted public comments to the Regional Oversight Committee on the Draft 2026 Biennial Progress Report. These comments build on priorities the coalition raised throughout 2025, regarding transparency, community investment, and long-term program sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Key Themes in OWLA\u2019s Comments:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Equity, community engagement, and nature-based solutions must be core pillars of the Program<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Meaningful community engagement is not clearly reflected in the Biennial Report. Equity cannot be treated as a scoring add-on or a checkbox; it has to be visible in how decisions are made, how investments are shaped, and how outcomes are tracked. <\/span>OWLA recommends establishing a minimum community engagement requirement as an eligibility condition for Regional Program funding.<\/span> Early, consistent engagement is what builds trust and results in projects that reflect real community priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

    There is a need to expand access for smaller cities, schools, and community-based organizations. Right now, larger agencies have dominated program participation and funding. That pattern reflects capacity barriers that can be fixed with the <\/span>implementation of set-asides for smaller applicants, streamlined application processes, increased technical assistance, and tracking participation metrics<\/span><\/p>\n

    Given the large number of benefits of nature-based solutions, this aspect of the program should be foundational. <\/span>OWLA recommends integrating nature-based solutions definitions into the Program\u2019s core requirements and scoring, connecting metrics to eligibility (not just optional performance measures), and revisiting hardscape replacement standards<\/span> so projects are incentivized to deliver meaningful greening outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Strengthening planning and long-term program sustainability<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The Initial Watershed Plans contain valuable technical work, but they currently lack a clear pathway for integration into SCWP funding decisions. Watershed planning has the potential to guide more strategic, watershed-scale investments across Los Angeles County, but this will require clearer direction on how these plans should influence project development and program priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

      OWLA recommends independent third-party technical review of the watershed plans to validate key assumptions, calculations, and datasets.<\/span> Clear interim guidance is also needed so applicants understand how alignment with watershed plans will be evaluated while the plans are finalized. <\/span>OWLA also encourages the Regional Oversight Committee to formally integrate watershed plans into program implementation by May 2027 so they can effectively guide long-term decision making.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Long-term financial sustainability is also critical to ensuring the success of the SCWP. Rising project costs, extended permitting timelines, and increasing operations and maintenance obligations requires stronger financial planning. <\/span>OWLA encourages the development of a 20-year watershed investment plan for all WASC\u2019s.<\/span> Annual funding caps that limit spending to a portion of available funds can help protect long-term program capacity and avoid overcommitting resources too early.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Greater transparency around financial forecasting is also needed. This includes <\/span>clearer accounting of interest earned on unspent funds, municipal carryover funds, and discrepancies between budgeted and spent allocations.<\/span> Strengthening leveraged funding strategies will also be important so that SCWP investments can attract additional funding while still ensuring smaller applicants have access to the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Transparency and scientific guidance are essential for program accountability<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Transparency and accessible data are essential to maintaining public trust in the SCWP. <\/span>OWLA supports efforts to improve Municipal Program data dashboards but emphasizes that these tools must be designed in ways that are clear, accessible, and meaningful to the public.<\/span> Dashboards should present information in plain language and clearly link program expenditures to measurable outcomes and progress towards goals set by the SCWP.<\/span><\/p>\n

        OWLA also supports the creation of a Scientific Advisory Panel that can help align scientific studies with watershed needs and program priorities.<\/span> A dedicated advisory body could help ensure that research investments address key knowledge gaps and provide meaningful guidance for program implementation. By strengthening the role of science and improving transparency around program outcomes, the SCWP can better demonstrate its impact and maintain public confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Why This Comment Letter Matters<\/b><\/p>\n

        The Safe Clean Water Program was approved by voters with expectations around equity, accountability, and measurable environmental benefits. The Program has extraordinary potential, but there are still ways to improve, and OWLA remains committed to ensuring the Program fulfills its promise.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u2192 Read the 2026 Draft Biennial Report <\/span>Here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) has the potential to deliver transformative, watershed-scale benefits for water quality, water supply, climate … Strengthening SCWP for Communities and Watersheds with the 2026 Biennial Report<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStrengthening SCWP for Communities and Watersheds with the 2026 Biennial Report - OurWaterLA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourwaterla.org\/es\/strengthening-scwp-for-communities-and-watersheds-with-the-2026-biennial-report\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Strengthening SCWP for Communities and Watersheds with the 2026 Biennial Report - OurWaterLA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) has the potential to deliver transformative, watershed-scale benefits for water quality, water supply, climate ... 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