Calif. Issues Grants From Water Bond

The state of California has awarded 21 counties money from the water bond voters approved in 2014 to improve their usage of groundwater.

The Department of Water Resources announced Wednesday the $7 million in grants to counties from Humboldt to San Diego.

Counties will use the money to map the flow of groundwater in their basins, report to the state, and plan how to improve use.

"We didn't get into this situation overnight with groundwater, and so it's going to take time to get out of this situation," Bisnett says. "This funding and future funding coming is going to help basins plan for the long-term."

The grants range from $250,000 to $500,000, which counties will supplement with their own funds. Monterey County will conduct the largest project, $1.7 million, to increase its monitoring and reporting of groundwater.

This is the first round of $100 million in the water bond approved for groundwater planning and use.