Beautiful scenery, wildlife, and native plants are featured in this year’s winning photos in the annual Lake Jennings 2024 Photo Contest. The contest is held annually by the Helix Water District. The District Board of Directors recognized the top photographers at its July meeting. The District runs the contest each year as a fun way […]
When longtime Escondido residents Anita and Larry Palmer moved into their new home in 2016, they decided the lawns and water-guzzling plants in their front and back yards “would have to go.” The result of their landscape makeover is the 2024 City of Escondido Landscape Makeover contest winner. The homeowners hoped to save the cost […]
San Diego County regional water and wastewater industries connect with their communities through service projects year-round. Vallecitos Water District employees eagerly embrace community involvement in addition to their important roles in maintaining safe and reliable water through an annual blood drive. The District will host its 28th Community Blood Drive in cooperation with the San […]
San Diego County Fair attendees found inspiration for low-water-use sustainable landscaping projects from award-winning examples of creative climate-appropriate and native plant gardens at the Fair’s popular Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show exhibit area. Californians Learning About Sustainable Landscape Design Debby Dunn, Senior Water Resources Specialist with the Water Authority, explains how Californians are changing their […]
San Diego County businesses and public agencies looking to replace ornamental grass with more sustainable landscaping are now eligible for increased rebates from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Metropolitan has added one dollar to its Turf Replacement Program base incentive to $3 per square foot for commercial, industrial and institutional sectors and $4 […]
Ruby Dela Cruz from the City of San Diego and Raul Villalpando from the City of Escondido were two of eight individuals honored at the 95th Annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Awards. Both have served their city for the past 23 years, and their awards recognize their contributions to enhancing California’s water environment. Ruby […]
Catherine and Bryan Binotti’s transformation of the front yard of their historic La Mesa home to a lush, water-efficient landscape was selected as the winner of the Helix Water District 2024 Water-Smart Landscape Contest. The annual competition recognizes residents for their outstanding water-efficient landscapes based on overall attractiveness, design, efficient irrigation, appropriate plant selection and […]
Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors honored Rick Whitney as the 2024 WaterSmart Landscape design contest winner. Water agencies throughout the county participate in an annual contest to encourage landscape transformations that reduce outdoor water use, are attractive, and often require less maintenance than turf-heavy landscapes. Each agency selects a winner within its service […]
Four photographers were recognized by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors for their winning images in its 17th annual Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve photo contest. The winning photos feature the natural beauty of the 784-acre reserve near Escondido. “We are grateful for the stunning contest photos received this year. Countless individuals will see […]
Elementary school students in Padre Dam Municipal Water District schools are making a splash and being recognized for their artwork, which highlights the importance of being water-wise. Padre Dam’s Board of Directors announced the winners of the District’s “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Poster Contest during its June board meeting. Thirteen kindergarten through fifth-grade students […]
The Helix Water District selected two East County students as recipients of $1,000 college scholarships for 2024. The students were recognized at the May Board of Directors meeting. Paige Newlon Receives Friedgen Scholarship Paige Newlon received the Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. It was established upon Friedgen’s retirement in 1998, after serving as Helix’s general manager […]
At the June Helix Water District board meeting, talented student artists were honored for their winning work in the 2024 Student Poster Contest. The students created winning posters to depict the theme “Being Water Wise Is visually.” The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California holds the regional poster contest to increase student awareness about water. […]
The City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs division announced the 2024 Water Awareness Calendar Contest winners at the May 15 City Council meeting. Twelve fourth-grade students enrolled in Escondido’s public and private elementary schools were honored by the City Council in front of their families, city staff, and teachers for the art they submitted to the […]
Biodiversity is increasingly threatened, making habitat preservation a priority. Recognizing the need for action, the Vallecitos Water District partnered with the San Diego Audubon Society to launch the Native Plant Seed Library, a groundbreaking program aimed at safeguarding botanical heritage. The library ensures the region’s botanical heritage remains intact for future generations and supports bird […]
Earlier this week, a fire broke out near Sweetwater Authority’s (Authority) Loveland Reservoir in Alpine, California. Authority staff swiftly responded to assist emergency services with access and logistics in their effort to fight the wind-driven fire, which burned approximately 18 acres before being contained. Loveland Reservoir, an important drinking water resource for Authority customers, served […]
Helix Water District Recognizes Top Photographers in Annual Photo Contest
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalBeautiful scenery, wildlife, and native plants are featured in this year’s winning photos in the annual Lake Jennings 2024 Photo Contest. The contest is held annually by the Helix Water District. The District Board of Directors recognized the top photographers at its July meeting. The District runs the contest each year as a fun way […]
Hard Work Pays Off for 2024 Escondido Landscape Contest Winner
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalWhen longtime Escondido residents Anita and Larry Palmer moved into their new home in 2016, they decided the lawns and water-guzzling plants in their front and back yards “would have to go.” The result of their landscape makeover is the 2024 City of Escondido Landscape Makeover contest winner. The homeowners hoped to save the cost […]
Vallecitos Water District Blood Drive Inspired By Vista Teen
/in Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County regional water and wastewater industries connect with their communities through service projects year-round. Vallecitos Water District employees eagerly embrace community involvement in addition to their important roles in maintaining safe and reliable water through an annual blood drive. The District will host its 28th Community Blood Drive in cooperation with the San […]
Award-Winning County Fair Landscape Exhibits Educate and Entertain
/in WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County Fair attendees found inspiration for low-water-use sustainable landscaping projects from award-winning examples of creative climate-appropriate and native plant gardens at the Fair’s popular Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show exhibit area. Californians Learning About Sustainable Landscape Design Debby Dunn, Senior Water Resources Specialist with the Water Authority, explains how Californians are changing their […]
Increased Rebates in 2024 for Large-Scale Landscape Makeover Projects
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County businesses and public agencies looking to replace ornamental grass with more sustainable landscaping are now eligible for increased rebates from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Metropolitan has added one dollar to its Turf Replacement Program base incentive to $3 per square foot for commercial, industrial and institutional sectors and $4 […]
Water Professionals Honored at 95th CWEA Awards
/in Achievements /by Gayle FalkenthalRuby Dela Cruz from the City of San Diego and Raul Villalpando from the City of Escondido were two of eight individuals honored at the 95th Annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Awards. Both have served their city for the past 23 years, and their awards recognize their contributions to enhancing California’s water environment. Ruby […]
Grossmont Home Wins Helix Water District 2024 Landscape Contest
/in WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalCatherine and Bryan Binotti’s transformation of the front yard of their historic La Mesa home to a lush, water-efficient landscape was selected as the winner of the Helix Water District 2024 Water-Smart Landscape Contest. The annual competition recognizes residents for their outstanding water-efficient landscapes based on overall attractiveness, design, efficient irrigation, appropriate plant selection and […]
Award-Winning Landscape Design Features Rainwater Capture
/in WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalOlivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors honored Rick Whitney as the 2024 WaterSmart Landscape design contest winner. Water agencies throughout the county participate in an annual contest to encourage landscape transformations that reduce outdoor water use, are attractive, and often require less maintenance than turf-heavy landscapes. Each agency selects a winner within its service […]
OMWD Board Honors Winners of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Photo Contest
/in Achievements /by Gayle FalkenthalFour photographers were recognized by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors for their winning images in its 17th annual Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve photo contest. The winning photos feature the natural beauty of the 784-acre reserve near Escondido. “We are grateful for the stunning contest photos received this year. Countless individuals will see […]
Padre Dam Honors Winners of the 2024 Student Poster Contest
/in Education /by Gayle FalkenthalElementary school students in Padre Dam Municipal Water District schools are making a splash and being recognized for their artwork, which highlights the importance of being water-wise. Padre Dam’s Board of Directors announced the winners of the District’s “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Poster Contest during its June board meeting. Thirteen kindergarten through fifth-grade students […]
Exceptional Students Win College Scholarships from Helix Water District
/in Education, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Helix Water District selected two East County students as recipients of $1,000 college scholarships for 2024. The students were recognized at the May Board of Directors meeting. Paige Newlon Receives Friedgen Scholarship Paige Newlon received the Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. It was established upon Friedgen’s retirement in 1998, after serving as Helix’s general manager […]
Helix Water District 2024 Student Poster Contest Winners Illustrate “Being Water Wise Is”
/in Education, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalAt the June Helix Water District board meeting, talented student artists were honored for their winning work in the 2024 Student Poster Contest. The students created winning posters to depict the theme “Being Water Wise Is visually.” The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California holds the regional poster contest to increase student awareness about water. […]
City of Escondido 2024 Student Poster Contest Winners Named
/in Education /by Gayle FalkenthalThe City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs division announced the 2024 Water Awareness Calendar Contest winners at the May 15 City Council meeting. Twelve fourth-grade students enrolled in Escondido’s public and private elementary schools were honored by the City Council in front of their families, city staff, and teachers for the art they submitted to the […]
Vallecitos Water District Opens Audubon Society Native Plant Seed Library
/in Education, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalBiodiversity is increasingly threatened, making habitat preservation a priority. Recognizing the need for action, the Vallecitos Water District partnered with the San Diego Audubon Society to launch the Native Plant Seed Library, a groundbreaking program aimed at safeguarding botanical heritage. The library ensures the region’s botanical heritage remains intact for future generations and supports bird […]
Loveland Reservoir Serves As Vital Resource in Fighting Recent Wildfire
/in Features, News /by Gayle FalkenthalEarlier this week, a fire broke out near Sweetwater Authority’s (Authority) Loveland Reservoir in Alpine, California. Authority staff swiftly responded to assist emergency services with access and logistics in their effort to fight the wind-driven fire, which burned approximately 18 acres before being contained. Loveland Reservoir, an important drinking water resource for Authority customers, served […]