Water: Urban Water Community Drought Relief program: Small Community Drought Relief program: high fire hazard and very high fire hazard severity zones.

Senator Alvarado-Gil's drought relief legislation establishes two new grant programs within California's Department of Water Resources, creating distinct funding pathways for urban and rural communities to address water supply challenges while incorporating wildfire risk reduction measures.

The Urban Water Community Drought Relief program would provide grants to communities served by urban water suppliers for projects ranging from emergency water deliveries to infrastructure improvements. Eligible projects include water delivery system upgrades in high and very high fire hazard severity zones, construction of emergency water interties and wells, water conservation initiatives, and facility repairs to preserve water treatment capacity. The parallel Small Community Drought Relief program would offer similar grant opportunities to rural communities not served by urban water suppliers, focusing on immediate drought impacts and water supply security.

Both programs would authorize funding for projects that extend beyond traditional drought relief, particularly emphasizing water system improvements for fire suppression in designated hazard zones. The bill's findings cite the economic impact of recent wildfires on rural communities like Grizzly Flats, Paradise, and Greenville, noting the relationship between aging infrastructure and fire risk. Implementation of both programs would commence upon future legislative appropriation, with the Department of Water Resources overseeing grant administration and project selection.