The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors honored the Nature Reserve of Orange County as a key partner in service at its meeting on November 28, 2011. The Nature Reserve was formed in 1996.

“The original partnership between the Nature Reserve of Orange County and IRWD began with NROC’s inception,” said IRWD General Manager Paul Cook. “However, we had the opportunity to enhance our partnership by welcoming NROC into the IRWD family in 2000 by providing them office space in our Sand Canyon building.”

The 1996 formation of the Nature Reserve of Orange County is the result of conservation planning by federal and state wildlife agencies, county and city governments, major landowners and the environmental community. The partnership was formed to establish a Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan for the Central and Coastal sub-region of Orange County. The result is a regional open-space reserve with 37,000 acres that permanently protects a wide range of local wildlife and natural habitats. NROC creates opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about this community of nature and it manages many monitoring and restoration programs throughout the reserve.
 
The 37,000 acres are located in two approximately equal sections - the Coastal Reserve extends from Newport Bay through Dana Point and north to Irvine. The Central Reserve is located in the county’s foothills and extends north of Irvine to the Santa Ana River. Some notable reserves in the IRWD service area include the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve, the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve and Irvine Regional Park.

The NROC Board of Directors is composed of public and private owners of reserve land, wildlife agencies, local governments and community representatives including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish & Game, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the County of Orange, the Irvine Ranch Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the University of California at Irvine, the Transportation Corridor Agencies, the City of Irvine, The Irvine Company, Headlands Reserve, LLC, the California Department of Forestry, the Coastal Greenbelt Authority and the Orange County Fire Authority. In addition three at-large public members representing the environment, business and recreation communities are elected to the board every two years.  Board President, Steve LaMar serves as the IRWD representative.

Additional information about NROC can be found on their website, www.naturereserveoc.org.

From left, IRWD Board members Peer Swan, John Withers, and Mary Aileen Matheis; IRWD General Manager Paul Cook; Nature Reserve of Orange County Executive Director Lyn McAfee; IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Board Member Doug Reinhart.

Irvine Ranch Water District honored Discovery Science Center at its September 26 Board of Directors meeting as a key Partner in Service. IRWD began a partnership with Discovery Science Center in 2008 to provide water science education to students throughout the District's service area.

"Discovery Science Center is a leader in developing engaging hands-on curriculum to align with grade-specific California Science Content Standards," said Interim General Manager Paul Cook.

The Discovery Science Center had its beginnings in 1984, when the boards of the Exploratory Learning Center and the Experience Center joined and formed the Discovery Museum of Orange County. The 59,000-square-foot Discovery Science Center opened at its present location in Santa Ana in 1998. The center is easy to locate with its unique 10-story high, 108-foot giant cube perched on one of its points on the top of the building.

Since 2008, Discovery Science Center has provided kindergarten through sixth grade water education programs and hands-on workshop-style middle school programs. Discovery Science Center has been able to weave in the IRWD educational message of Be Always Water Smart, including water recycling and natural treatment of urban runoff. During the 2010-11 school year, 8,167 Kindergarten through sixth grade students participated in the IRWD/DSC assembly program, while 1,605 students participated in the middle school program.

The Discovery Science Center has demonstrated exemplary collaboration with IRWD. Through the years, exceptional strides have been made in teaching students and families within the IRWD service area the value of water and the importance of protecting this vital resource.

From left, IRWD Board members John Withers, Mary Aileen Matheis, and Peer Swan; Janet Yamaguchi of Discovery Science Center; IRWD Interim General Manager Paul Cook; Discovery Science Center President Joe Adams; Toby Gant of Discovery Science Center; IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Board Member Doug Reinhart.

Irvine Ranch Water District honored Sea and Sage Audubon as a partner in education at its September 26 Board of Directors meeting. "The unique partnership between Sea and Sage Audubon and IRWD began in 1992," said IRWD Interim General Manager Paul Cook. "Sea and Sage was offered the use of what is now known as The Audubon House – formerly a bunk house for the duck hunting club that used the marsh for more than 60 years – in exchange for promoting education, awareness and understanding of the marsh environment."

The Sea and Sage Chapter of Audubon was founded in 1958 with a mission to protect birds and their habitats through conservation, science and education for people of all ages. With help from the Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation, the Marsh Education Project was launched in 1992, with development of its Outdoors Adventure Program. Trude Hurd was hired as the Project Director of Education.

Over the years, Audubon has hosted thousands of fourth through sixth grade students on their Tuesday and Thursday field trips. This two-hour interactive program, Outdoor Adventures, has received high praise from local educators and is used as a national model of excellence by the National Audubon Society.In addition to Outdoor Adventures, Audubon hosts an array of programs such as Nature Day Camps, bat walks, group tours, Seasons of Nature, Art Meets Science and more at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Sea & Sage Audubon has been an outstanding partner to Irvine Ranch Water District. Trude Hurd was also recognized for her unwavering commitment to community education. Her dedication complements the IRWD commitment to education.

From left, IRWD Board members John Withers, Mary Aileen Matheis and Peer Swan; Marsh Education Project Director Trude Hurd; IRWD Interim General Manager Paul Cook; Carolyn Nobel, Education Chairman; Bruce Aird, Sea and Sage President; IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Board Member Doug Reinhart.

The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors honored the Woodbridge Village Association (WVA) as a key partner in service at its October 24 meeting.  WVA was formed in 1976 and is the largest homeowners association within the IRWD Service Area.

“Over the years we have worked with many homeowners’ associations – but, by far, we have had the closest collaboration with the Woodbridge Village Association,” said General Manager Paul Cook.

The Association encompasses 1,700 acres and features approximately 40 parks and pools as well as two landmark lakes and swimming lagoons. WVA was the first HOA to comprehensively plan for recycled water. They successfully implemented this plan by incorporating recycled water everywhere possible within the award-winning community. In the early days, WVA used potable water for irrigation around the pools and lakes.  Over the years they worked closely with IRWD and the Health Department to expand their use of recycled water by retrofitting these irrigation systems to use recycled water.  It’s noteworthy that WVA was among the first to have a building dual-plumbed with both drinking and recycled water in the District at the Echo Run Park restroom in the early 1990s.

WVA was honored for its many years of support, guidance and commitment of excellence in service to the community. Since its formation in the late 1970s, Woodbridge has remained supportive of IRWD's water conservation programs.  For example, in the 1980s the Association was one of the first areas within the IRWD service area to convert from warm season grass to tall fescue. 

From left - IRWD Board Members Peer Swan and Mary Aileen Matheis; Kevin Chudy, Executive Director of the Woodbridge Village Association; Don Davis, WVA Board Member; IRWD Board President Steve LaMar and IRWD Board Member John Withers.

The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors, at its August 22, 2011 meeting, honored the City of Tustin as a key Partner in Service. Located in the heart of Orange County, Tustin embraces both the historical past of citrus groves and the promising future of a vibrant 21st Century economy.

"IRWD and Tustin have a long history together," said Interim General Manager Paul Cook. "IRWD serves about one third of Tustin’s residents while the city’s Public Works department provides water to remaining residents."

Tustin was incorporated in 1927 and is proud of its reputation for sound fiscal management and its progressive, business-friendly atmosphere. Their appreciation of their roots complements the IRWD look back on our own 50 years of growth. IRWD began serving Tustin residents in the 1970’s when the District acquired the Francis Mutual Water Company. Francis Mutual had wells they operated in Tustin. IRWD originally served the communities of Laurelwood and Peppertree, in addition to the Tustin Industrial Complex. In the late 1980’s, IRWD began providing water to the Tustin Ranch Development. IRWD and Tustin work cooperatively on the redevelopment of the Marine Corps Air Station.

Tustin Mayor Jerry Amante, holding plaque, stands with, from left, IRWD Board Member Peer Swan, Board President Steve LaMar, Board Member Mary Aileen Matheis, Interim General Manager Paul Cook and Board members John Withers and Doug Reinhart.

The City of Irvine and IRWD share a long history of creative collaboration and public stewardship. From our collaboration on the environmental stewardship and wildlife habitation restoration efforts at the IRWD San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, to making the use of recycled water a priority for Irvine residents, the partnership between the City of Irvine and IRWD has helped build the community into what it is today.

The City of Irvine has also partnered with IRWD to help preserve the history of Irvine Ranch. Through cooperatve efforts with the Irvine Historical Society, the Irvine Company and the City of Irvine, some of the original structures from the old Irvine Ranch have been restored and preserved by IRWD. They can now be viewed or visited by the public on the campus of the IRWD San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.

On March 22, 2011, in commemoration of the City of Irvine's 40th Anniversary and IRWD's 50th Anniversary, IRWD exchanged certificates of appreciation with Irvine City Council members.  IRWD honored the municipality as a key "Partner in Service" for the city's many years of support, guidance and commitment to excellence in service to the community.

Shown in the photo, from left to right, are Irvine Councilmember Jeffrey Lalloway, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Beth Krom, IRWD General Manager Paul Jones, Irvine Councilmember Steven Choi and Irvine Councilmember Larry Agran.

The Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors honored the City of Lake Forest at its August 22 meeting for being a part of the District's 50 years of history. The city has three different water districts that serve its residents.

"When IRWD consolidated with the Los Alisos Water District in 2001, the collaborative relationship was carried on," said Interim General Manager Paul Cook.

The city's motto is "Remember the past, challenge the future." This motto ties in appropriately with the IRWD 50th Anniversary efforts. Lake Forest ensures its rich heritage of the past is preserved and enhanced in this contemporary city - ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. The city was incorporated in 1991.

The City of Lake Forest has been a great partner to Irvine Ranch Water District in all endeavors.  Both of our organizations have grown together throughout the years and the growth of the community.

Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog, holding plaque, is flanked from left by IRWD Board Member Peer Swan, Board President Steve LaMar, Board Member Mary Aileen Matheis, former Los Alisos Water District Board Member James Reed, Interim General Manager Paul Cook, and Board Members Doug Reinhart and John Withers.

IRWD and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) share a long history of creative collaboration and public stewardship. This dynamic partnership spans a wide array of water resource initiatives including the distribution of imported water to central Orange County residents, conservation rebate programs, public outreach efforts, educational programming, emergency response preparedness and legislative collaboration.

Together, IRWD and MWD have achieved the common goal of providing a safe, reliable and cost-effective water supply to the communities we serve.

On April 25, 2011, in commemoration of IRWD's 50th Anniversary, IRWD presented MWD with a certificate of commendation honoring the agency 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 Directors John Withers and Douglas Reinhart, MWD General Manager Jeff Kightlinger, MWD Director Col. Jack Foley, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, IRWD Board Vice President Mary Aileen Matheis and IRWD Director Peer Swan.

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.

IRWD and MWDOC have also partnered on regional water supply planning and water supply reliability projects for South Orange County, including the South County Intertie.

MWDOC has been instrumental in assisting in IRWD negotiations with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) on many water resource initiatives, including the San Joaquin Reservoir, the Baker Plant, conservation rebates and various local projects, subsidies and MWD programs.

On April 11, 2011, in commemoration of  IRWD's 50th Anniversary, the IRWD Board or Directors honored MWDOC as a key "Partner in Service" for the agency's many years of support, guidance and commitment to excellence in service to the community. 


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. 

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and IRWD have successfully collaborated throughout the years on many regional issues and environmental projects. In the late 1970s, IRWD developed the original Dyer Road Well Field wells in cooperation with OCWD. The two agencies also partnered on the colored water treatment research leading to the Deep Aquifer Treatment (DATS) Project that went online in 2002.

IRWD relies upon 50 percent of its water supply from the Orange County groundwater basin. In turn, IRWD has provided winter supply to the OCWD Green Acres Recycled Project since 1998.

IRWD and OCWD have supported each other on various legislative efforts throughout the years. They also partnered on the clean-uo of TCE in the Irvine Sub-basin, leading to the creation of the Irvine Desalter Project following a financial settlement with the US Navy.

On April 25, 2011, in commemoration of IRWD's 50th Anniversary, IRWD presented OCWD with a certificate of commendation honoring the agency 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 adjacent photo are, from left, IRWD General Manager Paul Jones, IRWD  Directors John Withers and Douglas Reinhart, OCWD Director Philip Anthony, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, IRWD Board Vice President Mary AIleen Matheis and IRWD Director Peer Swan.

Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) and IRWD work together to meet our regional needs by collaborating on key waste water and environmental projects as well as by providing cost-effective wastewater service for customers.

Back in 1965, IRWD assumed the duties of the Sanitation District #14 from the agency that is now known as OCWD. From that time until 1986, IRWD independently met the wastewater needs of the Irvine area through the operation of the Michelson Water Reclamation Plant. At that time, IRWD and OCWD's predecessor agency reorganized Sanitation District #14 and subsequently IRWD purchased capacity in OCSD's wastewater treatment and conveyance facilities to provide disposal flexibility. In 1995, IRWD and OCSD amended their 1986 agreement to base ownership of treatment facilities based on actual flows.

IRWD and OCSD understand the importance and value of recycled water and mutually support each other in their efforts to reuse water. Both agencies also recognize the need to work together on legislation which impacts our services and region, and have partnered on legislative issues throughout the years.

On April 25, 2011, in commemoration of IRWD's 50th Anniversary, IRWD presented OCSD with a certificate of commendation honoring the agency 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 Directors John Withers and Douglas Reinhart, OCSD Director of Engineering Jim Herberg, OCSD Board Chair Larry Crandall, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, IRWD Board Vice President Mary AIleen Matheis and IRWD Director Peer Swan.

Southern California Edison (SCE) and IRWD have enjoyed a long history of creative collaboration in energy efficiency and financial incentives. 

These collaborations involved successful teamwork in the following partnership programs: Savings-by-Design, Industrial Energy Efficiency, California Solar Initiative Infrastructure, Agricultural Energy Efficiency, Standard Performance, Critical Peak Pricing, Conservation Credit and Energy Efficiency Program Contracts.

Recently, IRWD worked with SCE to receive a California Solar Initiative for the 224.121 kW phototvoltaic (PV) system on the No. 2 Reservoir at the East Irvine Zone 3 site. Over the years, SCE and IRWD have collaborated on more than 25 energy efficiency programs, with IRWD being one of the original participants in SCE's Demand Relief Program.

On May 9, 2011, in commemoration of IRWD's 50th Anniversary, the IRWD Board of Directors and General Manager honored Southern California Edison as a key "Partner in Service" for SCE's many years of support, guidance and commitment to excellenct in service to the community.

Shown in the photo above are, from left, IRWD Directors John Withers and Peer Swan, IRWD Board President Steven LaMar, SCE Account Executive James Pasmore, IRWD General Manager Paul Jones, and IRWD Director Douglas Reinhart.

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 throughout the IRWD service area. During this process, the Irvine Company helped IRWD protect and conserve precious water resources by supporting innovative approaches to catching, treating and reusing urban runoff and helping in the restoration of Upper Newport Bay. 

The Irvine Company also played a critical role in creating the Central Coastal Orange County Natural Communities Conservation Plan, fostered beneficial working relationships with a wide range of key regional, state and federal agencies, and worked closely with IRWD on the purchase of the San Joaquin Marsh and the subsequent Natural Treatment System Project.

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.

On July 11, 2011, in celebration of the District's 50th Anniversary, the IRWD Board of Directors recognized former General Manager Paul D. Jones II as a key "Partner in Service" and presented him with a Certificate of Commendation. The IRWD Board recognized Jones for his 12 years of support, guidance and commitment to excellence in service to the District and the community. The successes achieved by Irvine Ranch Water District were, in part, made possible by his dedication and willingness to support and implement numerous creative projects and leading-edge programs. 

Shown in photo above is former IRWD General Manager Paul D. Jones, II, holding up his Key Partner Commendation from the IRWD Board of Directors.

Joan Irvine Smith is the great-granddaughter of James Irvine who assembled about 120,000 acres to form the Irvine Ranch in what is now known as central Orange County. The land that once was the Irvine Ranch is now largely contained within Irvine Ranch Water District's service area.

Growing up in California as a member of a pioneer ranching family instilled in Joan a sense of stewardship for the land and a passion for horses. She has been a key IRWD community partner, helping to establish the San Joaquin Marsh & Wildldife Sanctuary and providing much needed support to the Audubon Marsh Education Project since 1992. To this day, Joan continues her interest and support for the management of the Orange County groundwater basin.

Joan is also well known for her community-based philanthropy in art and education. She co-founded the Irvine Museum and has given extensive donations to University of California, Irvine.

On March 14, 2011, in celebration of the District's 50th anniversary, the IRWD Board of Directors recognized Joan Irvine Smith as a key "Partner in Service" and presented her with a Certificate of Commendation.

Shown with Joan in this photo are, from left, Director Douglas Reinhart, Director John Withers, General Manager Paul Jones, Director Peer Swan and Board President Steven LaMar.