Join an IRWD virtual cleanup, share your photos
As much as 80% of the trash and pollution we find along our shorelines comes from a variety of inland sources. Cleaning up this debris can help protect species that live in wetland habitats and the ocean.
To continue the tradition of IRWD’s annual San Diego Creek Watershed cleanups during the pandemic, the District is coordinating three virtual volunteer trash cleanup events for local communities.
Residents are encouraged to participate in one or all of the events with their family and/or household members by picking up trash in their neighborhood parks, schools, trails and other public areas.
We are also inviting you to share your cleanup experiences with us! Send photos of you and your crew picking up trash, and include pictures of the largest and most unusual trash that you found. Email your photos to webmaster@IRWD.com and we’ll share them on social media and our website. (By emailing us your cleanup photo, you are authorizing us to use your photo on our website and in social media.)
You can also record your results with the Ocean Conservancy’s global Clean Swell app, which keeps a record of cleanup results around the globe. Clean Swell is downloadable for free on any smart phone app store.
Scheduled dates for the virtual cleanups are listed below, but you can do your part any time between now and July 18.
- · Saturday, April 24
- · Saturday, June 26
- · Saturday, July 17
A few reminders:
- · Be safe at all times and collect trash only in public areas designated for pedestrians.
- · Please wear masks and observe CDC safety guidelines during the cleanup.
- · Bring hand sanitizer and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
- · Please wear closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and hats.
Thank you for doing your part! Let’s work together in keeping our communities and water clean!
60th anniversary: A history of IRWD education programs
IRWD has provided water education programs since the 1970s, and in honor of our 60th anniversary, we celebrate the significant impact our student and community education programs have had on thousands of our customers.
IRWD participates in community partnerships to provide education about the importance of water and environmental sustainability. This includes Sea and Sage Audubon programs, community tours, and school programs such as water awareness poster contests, children’s education festivals, and science fairs.
Since 2007, more than 18,000 students have participated in assemblies and field trips through our partnership with the Discovery Cube Orange County. In 2020, we took our programming online with virtual workshops, presentations, and interactive digital content. Visit IRWD.com/learning/student-education.
IRWD hosting budget workshops for two-year budget
The Board of Directors of Irvine Ranch Water District will host two budget workshops to review the proposed Operating Budgets for the Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23. The workshops will be held virtually via Webex at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 12, and Monday, April 26.
Meeting link will be posted on the board calendar. Any interested persons are invited to be present and make a comment. Copies of the proposed budgets are available on the IRWD website at this link and this link.
Irvine Ranch Water District is an independent special district serving central Orange County. IRWD is committed to providing high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to its customers. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. The District adheres to a two-year operating budget cycle and the fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 each year.
2021 Fix a Leak Week: Save water and win
Fixing a leaky toilet can save 30 to 50 gallons of water per day: Even the smallest drip, if left alone, can quickly add up and lead to over-allocation charges that result in higher water bills. This month, in observance of WaterSense’s Fix a Leak Week, IRWD is rewarding customers who track down and repair leaks in their home.
Enter the Fix a Leak Sweepstakes starting March 3 and be entered to win one of seven $100 Home Depot gift cards. Fill out an entry form and send us a photo of you checking your toilet for a leak. Learn more at IRWD.com/FixALeakWeek.
Recognizing the role of the San Joaquin Marsh
The District has long been committed to protecting the environment through effective water and resource management. Protecting, sustaining and revitalizing the environment matters to IRWD and we have demonstrated this longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability through a variety of innovative water management programs including urban runoff reduction and treatment at the San Joaquin Marsh, which encompasses more than 300 acres of coastal freshwater wetlands. In addition to providing a valuable open space oasis and wildlife habitat for the community, the working wetlands help naturally clean the urban runoff from San Diego Creek, removing up to 70 percent of the nitrogen carried in the water, helping to protect the environmentally sensitive Upper Newport Bay.
Modeled after the San Joaquin Marsh, the IRWD Natural Treatment System is a series of smaller, man-made wetlands located throughout the IRWD service area. These wetlands naturally remove contaminants from urban runoff in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. Both the Natural Treatment System and the San Joaquin Marsh help IRWD protect the environment through the treatment of natural dry-weather runoff.
The Sea & Sage Audubon has been an outstanding partner to IRWD. Through the years, we’ve made great strides in educating residents of Orange County. Our collaborative programs and activities are designed to increase public appreciation and awareness of the beauty and diversity of wildlife in the San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary.
Learn more at IRWD.com.
Photo: IRWD Board Member Peer Swan surveys the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005.
