Community Benefit Project Guide

Tips for Applicants Developing Community Benefit MLRP Projects

As part of the Merced MLRP's special $1.2 million funding opportunity for Community Benefit Projects, it's crucial that applicants understand what constitutes a "meaningful benefit" to disadvantaged communities. The California Department of Conservation has established clear guidelines to help project applicants ensure their proposals meet this essential requirement.

What Makes a Benefit "Meaningful"?

According to DOC guidelines, a project provides meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities when it meets ALL four essential criteria:

1. Direct and Measurable Impact - Your project must create direct, tangible, substantial, and measurable benefits that wouldn't exist without the project. The benefits can't be incidental or speculative - they must clearly result from your project activities and be proportional to the project's scale.

2. Enhances Community Resources and Quality of Life - The project must protect or improve at least one of these community resources:

   1. Drinking water (supply, quality, or affordability)

   2. Air quality or noise reduction

   3. Community assets (green spaces, recreation areas, etc.)

   4. Reduction of negative impacts identified by the community

3. Responds to Community Needs - Benefits must directly address needs expressed by the community through engagement efforts. Your project should create opportunities for community participation, ranging from providing information to involving residents in developing solutions and project features.

4. No Long-term Harm - The project cannot result in long-term degradation of community resources. If there's potential for negative impacts, you must have mechanisms in place to avoid these harms.

Key Considerations for Project Development

When developing your project proposal, keep these points in mind:

• Benefits should have a clear causal link to your project activities

• Consider practical measurement methods - proxies are acceptable when direct measurement isn't feasible

• Community engagement is essential - either through direct project input or previous planning efforts

• Scale community participation appropriately based on project scope and feasibility

• Be proactive in identifying and addressing potential negative impacts

Get FREE Assistance!

Remember, the Merced MLRP team is here to support you. We offer free technical assistance to help develop competitive applications that meet these meaningful benefit requirements. Contact us at info@mercedmlrp.org before submitting your application to discuss your project ideas.

By understanding and incorporating these guidelines, your project can successfully provide meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities while supporting groundwater sustainability in the Merced Subbasin.

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More Info & Resources

​​​​M​​ultibenefit Land Repurposing Revised Guidelines Round 2 (PDF)