Osprey Chick Hatches at San Joaquin Marsh Nesting Platform
More than 200 species of birds have been sighted at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, including many raptors, such as the osprey.
Now for the first time, an osprey pair has hatched a chick in a nest they constructed in a 40-foot tall nesting platform installed last summer. The platform is located on a peninsula in one of the marsh’s ponds, which gives the birds the illusion of being surrounded by water, but also allows access to maintenance crews. Currently, the trail to the platform is not accessible to the public, but the birds may be best viewed from adjacent trails.
IRWD installed the platform at the request of the Sea and Sage Audubon Society, which wanted it modeled after the successful platform at Newport Back Bay’s Shellmaker Island.
“In January, we observed the nesting pair gathering material for the nest,” said Jason Tran, wetlands specialist for IRWD. “The chick hatched in early May.”
Interestingly enough, the chick’s mother was born in 2008 at the Shellmaker Island platform. She was tracked to that site by leg bands biologists at Shellmaker’s Marine Science Center had placed on her. Experts say female ospreys usually don’t nest until they are at least three years old.
In June, Sea and Sage held a banding event at the marsh. Local raptor biologist Pete Bloom and raptor expert Scott Thomas removed the chick from the nest and put bands on its legs then returned it to the nest.
Recently, the chick flew from the nest for the first time. It is still dependent on the parents for food, so it frequently returns to the nest.
It is estimated that osprey nests had not been reported in Orange County for more than 70 years, until the platform at Shellmaker Island was built four years ago. Since then, there have been several successful nests there. It is hoped that the platform at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary will see many more osprey chicks hatched there in the future.
IRWD Featured at Water Conservation Symposium
IRWD Conservation Manager Fiona Sanchez will be a featured speaker at the Toro Company’s fifth annual “Success Without Excess ” symposium on Thursday, July 29.
The symposium will be held at the company’s headquarters in Riverside. IRWD will be one of eight water districts throughout the region as presenters at the symposium.
HOA landscape/irrigation committee chairs, building and apartment owners, landscape maintenance professionals and city managers are scheduled to attend. The symposium is designed to educate attendees about California water issues and commercial irrigation systems and motivate water users to implement this knowledge to realize savings on their landscaping water bills.
IRWD is one of eight Southern California water agencies participating in the event. Sanchez will speak on “Water Budgets and Tiered Billing.” IRWD has used an allocation-based conservation rate structure since 1991.
The Riverside Press Enterprise will broadcast the symposium live.
IRWD Lauded for Financial Reporting
IRWD has received the Certificate for Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, also known as the CAFR.
This is the sixth consecutive year IRWD has received the honor, which is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.
“We are continually striving for transparency in IRWD’s complex financial structure. We are very proud of our finance team,” said Debby Cherney, IRWD’s director of finance.
The 125-page CAFR, which can be accessed via at www.irwd.com, includes audited financial statements and other data about the District and its finances. It was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate customers to read the CAFR.
The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
IRWD to Host Water Smart Landscapes Open House
IRWD’s Water Conservation Department will be teaming up with the University of California Extension and Orange County Master Gardeners to host “Water Smart Landscapes” on Saturday, October 2, 2010.
This open house-style event will be held at the South Coast Research and Extension Center at 7601 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be displays of California Friendly plants and lawn alternatives, mulch and composting materials and high efficiency irrigation products.
In addition, there will be presentations on how to “makeover” your landscape to use up to 50 percent less water. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about gardening, irrigation, pest control and much more.
The Orange County Master Gardeners are volunteers from the community with an interest in gardening who have successfully completed an extensive training program through the University of California Cooperative Extension program.
The South Coast Research and Extension Center was established by the University of California in 1956 as a representative site for agricultural research on 200 acres.
There is no charge to attend the landscape open house event and reservations are not necessary. Mark your calendar for October 2, 2010.
More information is available at www.alwayswatersmart.com.
IRWD Launches New Customer-Friendly Website
IRWD is proud to announce the launch of our new next-generation website at www.irwd.com, offering a fresh look and feel. The site is not only aesthetically pleasing, but features relevant content with simple navigation. IRWD’s commitment to high quality customer service shines through via the new site -- enabling customers to enjoy site visits, whether it be to pay their bill, learn more about where water comes from or tips to help conserve.
The redesigned website features new technology to make the website experience better for our customers. The content features current information about IRWD’s services and programs, including simple ways to pay water bills, our innovative recycled water program and all things conservation in the www.alwayswatersmart.com section.
Customers can learn more about IRWD, where our water comes from and how it’s treated. There are also plenty of tips, tools and resources for all of our customers for all things water and water conservation. Surf our new website and learn about such upcoming events as our Fall Landscape Open House and resident tours. Check out the Water Quality section to view the latest water quality report or get self help on water quality issues. Find out how IRWD cleans up urban runoff before it enters the Newport Back Bay. Learn how to read your water meter, check for water leaks that can cause a high water bill and how to check your water pressure regulator.
IRWD first entered the Internet age with its then-new website in 1997. The current redesign is the District’s third site. Visitors can easily access the District’s social media pages like You Tube, Facebook and Twitter. The District has been participating in social media since April 2009 and our new technology-friendly website provides a framework to help grow and sustain those effective social media efforts.
It’s all there waiting to be discovered on IRWD’s new website!
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-550
