Discovery Science Center Event Promotes Learning and Fun

Kids of all ages are invited to visit the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Marsh on Saturday, April 30 for the Discovery Science Center annual Wild about the Wetlands event.  Activities will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Wild About the Wetlands provides not only a fun activity for families, but will also offer a great opportunity to learn more about the environment and water,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Jones.  “We’re proud to partner with Discovery Science Center once again this year.”

High school volunteers will teach children about water and resources through interactive games and demonstrations. During the day, children will be able to:

• Learn about keeping waterways clean and free from pollution with a landscape and coastline model
• Learn about the water cycle by making a water cycle headband
• Make a biodegradable seed pot and plant a California Friendly flower seed in it, and
• Play a wetland preservation game.

For more information about our community education programs, please visit Water Education - Irvine Ranch Water District.

It’s Crunch Time for the Solar Boat Race

The Irvine Ranch Water District Solar Cup team from El Toro High School is on track to finish its boat in time for the May 13-15 race at Lake Skinner. This is the sixth consecutive year that IRWD has teamed up with students from El Toro High School in the annual race, hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 

“We had a few setbacks, like the new motor arriving three wakes late,” said El Toro teacher and team adviser Doug Ford. “But with our new machinery in the department, we are able to fabricate many of our parts in-house.”

The team will compete against more than 30 teams from all over Southern California in the ninth annual race. Ford said the school’s art club will be painting a design on the boat within the next few weeks.

The Solar Cup program encourages students to consider careers in science and engineering while learning about environmental stewardship.

For more information about our education programs, please visit our website.

 Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500

Over the years, the Irvine Company and IRWD have grown in tandem while working on providing the necessary infrastructure for the many successful planned communities that arose througout the IRWD service area.

On March 28, 2011, in commemoration of IRWD's 50th Anniversary, the IRWD Board of Directors and General Manager presented The Irvine Company with a certificate of commendation honoring the company as a key "Partner in Service" for their many years of support, guidance and commitment to excellence in service to the community.

Shown in the above photo are, from left, IRWD General Manager Paul Jones, IRWD Board Vice President Mary Aileen Matheis, IRWD Director Peer Swan, IRWD Director Douglas Reinhart, Irvine Company former Vice President of Environmental Affairs Satoru "Sat" Tamaribuchi, Irvine Company Senior Vice President Dan Miller, Irvine Company Senior Director Dean Kirk, IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Director John Withers.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and IRWD enjoy a long history of creative collaboration and public stewardship. They worked together closely to complete the Diemer Intertie Pipeline, later known as the Allen McCullough Pipeline, successfully coordinating the eventual takeover of the operation and maintenance of this project by MWDOC.

Shown in the photo above are, from left, IRWD Directors John Withers and Douglas Reinhart, MWDOC Directors Wayne Clark and Jeffrey Thomas, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, IRWD Board Vice President Mary Aileen Matheis and IRWD Director Peer Swan.