The Vista Irrigation District, one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. In the 1920s, citrus and avocado farming in the Vista area increased so quickly that the growing region faced the real danger of running out of water. Completing the Henshaw Dam in 1923 made it […]
Large trees were the driving force that led Encinitas homeowners to remove grass and create a vibrant, low-water use landscape. The waterwise transformation won the San Dieguito Water District 2023 Landscape Makeover Contest. Rick and Melanie Cullen had a yard with grass with large shade trees. But the roots of their three large Liquidambar trees […]
(Editor’s Note: This feature highlights new members of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 36-member Board of Directors. Each of the Water Authority’s 24 member agencies appoints at least one representative to the Board, which sets policy for the Water Authority.) Welcome to the Board: Vicki Quiram, Carlsbad Municipal Water District Who: Vicki Quiram was […]
Three resourceful homeowners took advantage of free resources, including design and plant selection advice, to create beautiful drought-tolerant landscapes. Their projects were named winners of the 2023 Vallecitos Water District Landscape Makeover Contest. Video features the three winning projects Dean Williams: Drab To Delightful Carlsbad homeowner Dean Williams and his wife didn’t like their existing […]
The slope of a 1920s La Mesa home went from a drab lawn to lush floral color with climate-appropriate plants, winning recognition from the Helix Water District as the runner-up in its 2023 WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The contest promotes beautiful, water-efficient landscapes and rewards people for their inspiring gardens. Joanna and Larry Henning created the […]
Santee homeowners Edie and Tate Thomas created a beautiful landscape with California native plants to save water, beautify their home, and support the region’s wildlife. Their effort won the 2023 Padre Dam Municipal Water District landscape makeover contest. Preserving rainfall by design In 2018, the couple began working on their makeover project. Edie Thomas is […]
Free water use surveys offered through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California provide both residential and commercial customers with recommendations to improve landscape and indoor water use efficiency. The surveys are available throughout Southern California, including San Diego County. The San Marcos Unified School District took advantage of the opportunity for water use surveys […]
The Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors recognized students from district area schools for their excellence in the classroom in two separate contests: poster art for fourth graders and an essay competition for scholarships. Students who compete for a scholarship must complete an essay and provide a personal statement related to their background and/or goals. […]
Helix Water District received recognition from The Climate Registry as a Water-Energy Leader Gold organization after the district reduced its electric use by 15% and greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. The Climate Registry is a nonprofit organization that helps companies, governments, and institutions reduce their emissions. Its Water-Energy Nexus Registry is sponsored by the California […]
On June 27, the San Diego County Water Authority kicked off its first Citizens Water Academy since 2020, when COVID-19 forced a shutdown of the program. The academy offers attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Water Authority’s life-sustaining mission. Participants learn firsthand about critical water issues affecting the region and go […]
In partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Marcos, the Vallecitos Water District offers a series of five WaterSmart landscape design workshops in August and September to help its customers redesign and install new water-saving, sustainable landscapes at a convenient North County location. Classes take place every other Wednesday […]
Vista Homeowner Diane Krupnak redesigned her front yard to save water and won the 2023 Vista Irrigation District WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The annual contest recognizes outstanding waterwise residential landscapes based on the criteria of overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient irrigation methods. Workshops provide homeowner know-how Concerned by the severity of […]
Six students from schools in the Otay Water District are the winners of the annual Student Poster Contest. More than 53 students submitted entries from schools in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Spring Valley. The poster art depicts the value of water and using water wisely. Students in all grades were asked to create and […]
Sweetwater Authority has brought on Roberto Yano as the agency’s new Assistant General Manager. With 30 years of experience in public works, engineering and leadership at the City of Chula Vista and the City of National City, Yano brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise to the Authority. As the Assistant General Manager, Yano […]
National City homeowner Catalina Schultz decided to reinvent her yard. Her landscape transformation from grass to a low-water use design is the 2023 winner of the Sweetwater Authority WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Contest. Schultz’s landscape demonstrates how homeowners can create a beautiful, California-friendly landscape using less water. Schultz was recognized for her accomplishment at the Authority’s […]
Vista Irrigation District Celebrates 100 Years of Service
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Vista Irrigation District, one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. In the 1920s, citrus and avocado farming in the Vista area increased so quickly that the growing region faced the real danger of running out of water. Completing the Henshaw Dam in 1923 made it […]
Mountains Inspire Winners of San Dieguito Water District 2023 Landscape Contest
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalLarge trees were the driving force that led Encinitas homeowners to remove grass and create a vibrant, low-water use landscape. The waterwise transformation won the San Dieguito Water District 2023 Landscape Makeover Contest. Rick and Melanie Cullen had a yard with grass with large shade trees. But the roots of their three large Liquidambar trees […]
Welcome to the Board: Vicki Quiram, Carlsbad Municipal Water District
/in Features, Welcome to the Board /by Mike Lee(Editor’s Note: This feature highlights new members of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 36-member Board of Directors. Each of the Water Authority’s 24 member agencies appoints at least one representative to the Board, which sets policy for the Water Authority.) Welcome to the Board: Vicki Quiram, Carlsbad Municipal Water District Who: Vicki Quiram was […]
Vallecitos Water District 2023 Landscape Makeover Winners Find Inspiration
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalThree resourceful homeowners took advantage of free resources, including design and plant selection advice, to create beautiful drought-tolerant landscapes. Their projects were named winners of the 2023 Vallecitos Water District Landscape Makeover Contest. Video features the three winning projects Dean Williams: Drab To Delightful Carlsbad homeowner Dean Williams and his wife didn’t like their existing […]
Lush Landscape Recognized as Runner-Up in Helix Landscape Contest
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe slope of a 1920s La Mesa home went from a drab lawn to lush floral color with climate-appropriate plants, winning recognition from the Helix Water District as the runner-up in its 2023 WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The contest promotes beautiful, water-efficient landscapes and rewards people for their inspiring gardens. Joanna and Larry Henning created the […]
Santee Garden Oasis Wins 2023 Padre Dam Municipal Water District Landscape Contest
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSantee homeowners Edie and Tate Thomas created a beautiful landscape with California native plants to save water, beautify their home, and support the region’s wildlife. Their effort won the 2023 Padre Dam Municipal Water District landscape makeover contest. Preserving rainfall by design In 2018, the couple began working on their makeover project. Edie Thomas is […]
San Marcos Unified School District Benefits From Free Water Use Survey
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalFree water use surveys offered through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California provide both residential and commercial customers with recommendations to improve landscape and indoor water use efficiency. The surveys are available throughout Southern California, including San Diego County. The San Marcos Unified School District took advantage of the opportunity for water use surveys […]
Students Recognized For Conservation Art, Scholarship Excellence by Vallecitos Water District
/in Education, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors recognized students from district area schools for their excellence in the classroom in two separate contests: poster art for fourth graders and an essay competition for scholarships. Students who compete for a scholarship must complete an essay and provide a personal statement related to their background and/or goals. […]
Helix Water District Named Water Energy Leader with Energy Use Reductions
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalHelix Water District received recognition from The Climate Registry as a Water-Energy Leader Gold organization after the district reduced its electric use by 15% and greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. The Climate Registry is a nonprofit organization that helps companies, governments, and institutions reduce their emissions. Its Water-Energy Nexus Registry is sponsored by the California […]
Citizens Water Academy Returns for Summer 2023
/in Education, Features /by Kimberlyn VelasquezOn June 27, the San Diego County Water Authority kicked off its first Citizens Water Academy since 2020, when COVID-19 forced a shutdown of the program. The academy offers attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Water Authority’s life-sustaining mission. Participants learn firsthand about critical water issues affecting the region and go […]
Free Landscape Workshops Convenient for Vallecitos Customers
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalIn partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Marcos, the Vallecitos Water District offers a series of five WaterSmart landscape design workshops in August and September to help its customers redesign and install new water-saving, sustainable landscapes at a convenient North County location. Classes take place every other Wednesday […]
Vista Irrigation District Landscape Winner Complements Home Design
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalVista Homeowner Diane Krupnak redesigned her front yard to save water and won the 2023 Vista Irrigation District WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The annual contest recognizes outstanding waterwise residential landscapes based on the criteria of overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient irrigation methods. Workshops provide homeowner know-how Concerned by the severity of […]
Six Student Artists Win 2023 Otay Poster Contest
/in Education, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSix students from schools in the Otay Water District are the winners of the annual Student Poster Contest. More than 53 students submitted entries from schools in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Spring Valley. The poster art depicts the value of water and using water wisely. Students in all grades were asked to create and […]
Sweetwater Authority Welcomes Roberto Yano as Assistant General Manager
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeSweetwater Authority has brought on Roberto Yano as the agency’s new Assistant General Manager. With 30 years of experience in public works, engineering and leadership at the City of Chula Vista and the City of National City, Yano brings a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise to the Authority. As the Assistant General Manager, Yano […]
Landscape Transformation Wins Sweetwater Authority Contest
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalNational City homeowner Catalina Schultz decided to reinvent her yard. Her landscape transformation from grass to a low-water use design is the 2023 winner of the Sweetwater Authority WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Contest. Schultz’s landscape demonstrates how homeowners can create a beautiful, California-friendly landscape using less water. Schultz was recognized for her accomplishment at the Authority’s […]