State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program
Forecasted
State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program supports California producers with on-farm irrigation improvements that conserve water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen drought resilience.
Funder: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Grant application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 per on-farm project; one project per eligible entity per funding cycle
Summary: SWEEP funds California on-farm irrigation improvements that conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Information: Producers apply through regional Block Grant Recipients, not directly to CDFA, and must maintain funded systems for at least 10 years.
Description
The State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) is administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS). It supports irrigation improvements that achieve both water conservation and greenhouse gas emission reductions, helping California agriculture improve water and energy efficiency and become more resilient to drought.
SWEEP now operates through regional Block Grant Recipients (BGRs), which administer local solicitations and provide technical assistance and implementation support. Supported strategies include irrigation scheduling tools, drip irrigation and other system improvements, pump retrofits or replacements, variable frequency drives, fuel conversions, and renewable energy installations. Projects can reduce emissions through lower pumping energy use or reduced nitrous oxide emissions. Each regional partner has its own goals and project-selection criteria.
