Winter Puts on a Show at IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Birds and Other Wildlife Abound
Winter is an exciting at the San Joaquin Marsh, where many birds that flew south from snowy climates are arriving to make it their winter home. Bird watching opportunities abound at this fresh water wetlands.
“Visitors may see Canada geese, white pelicans and more than a dozen species of ducks,” said Trude Hurd, project director for Sea and Sage Audubon, which operates educational programs at the Marsh.
Partnering with IRWD, Audubon provides volunteers to lead free wildlife walks on the first Saturday of the month. Binoculars are available for loan.
As visitors walk around the ponds, they might be treated to the sight and songs of the white-crowned sparrows and the yellow-rumped warblers as they feed on insects in the trees.
The Marsh is also home to birds of prey, such as hawks and owls. They live at the Marsh year-round, with the population of mice, rabbits and other small mammals providing a food source.
In recent years, a family of bobcats has been present, with new kittens making their appearances in the spring.
Because the Marsh is not open to visitors at night, many of the nocturnal animals such as coyotes, skunks and raccoons will not be seen. However, on occasion, coyotes can be seen wandering the trails in the early morning of evening. Skunks can be seen only in the early morning.
Visitors are advised to enjoy the wildlife, but not to approach or feed them. If visitors picnic at the Marsh, they should dispose of their trash and left-over food in the trash cans. The large bins are covered to keep out the raccoons.
More information about the Marsh is available on our website.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
IRWD to Host Water 101: The Basics and Beyond
Water from A to Z
The Water Education Foundation will hold a day-and-a-half course on California Water basics on February 14-15 at Irvine Ranch Water District.
"The course is open to anyone, but will be especially beneficial to water resource industry staff, engineering and environmental firm personnel, legislators, legislative staff, advocates, stakeholders, environmentalists, public interest organizations and water district directors," said IRWD Public Affairs Manager Shannon Reed.
Top speakers include:
? Richard Atwater, executive director of the Southern California Water Committee, discussing the role of alternative water supplies – everything from conjunctive use to stormwater resources to desalination
? Lester Snow with California Water Foundation, discussing the natural environment and water delivery systems
? Attorney Eric Garner with Best Best & Krieger, providing an overview of California’s water rights system
? Dennis O’Connor with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, discussing working with and understanding the state Legislature
? And many more!
Educational sessions the first day will include discussions on:
? California’s natural water environment
? Water demand and use
? Current issues in California water management
? The legal and institutional management framework
? The role of alternative water supplies
On the second day participants will be provided with:
?A governance primer for water district directors that will include the roles and responsibilities of a director, legal requirements of board members and points on understanding the news media.
The course will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 14 and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. February 15.
Cost: $250. Registration fee includes all educational materials, coffee breaks, lunch on February 14 and a graduation certificate upon completion of the day-and-a-half course. Scholarships are available on a case-by-case basis.
Please contact the Water Education Foundation for more information: 916-444-6240, or visit their website.
Off the Beaten Path of San Joaquin Marsh
The Roads Less Traveled
Most visitors to the Irvine Ranch Water District San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary are familiar with the Riparian View entrance because many trails begin behind the Duck Club and Audubon House. There are lesser-known trails – one off Campus Drive and the other on Carlson Avenue.
“This is a nice time to walk out there and visit the restored San Diego Creek bed,” said IRWD Supervising Wetlands/Wildlife Biologist Ian Swift.
The Carlson Avenue entry contains a 600-foot trail completed in 2005 through the Carlson Marsh. The completion of this portion of the trail added to the overall 12-mile trail network within the wildlife sanctuary. The trail offers a different perspective of the Marsh and even more opportunities for viewing a variety of wildlife.
Visitors must park on the west side of Carlson Avenue when using the Carlson entrance. Viewing platforms on Campus Drive offer an interesting overview of the Marsh. Parking is available on the north side of Campus Drive.
The Marsh is located on the Pacific flyway and is home to more than 200 species of birds throughout the year. There are kiosks throughout the Marsh, where hikers may pick up trail maps and other interesting tidbits. More information on the Marsh is located on our website.
The Irvine Ranch Water District Website Has the Answers
Save Time, Look Online
Do you have questions about your balance, water bill or need to start or stop your service? You can save time by going online.
At www.irwd.com, it’s easy to complete many of these tasks in seconds:
- Check Your Balance – you can check your account balance, view your payment history, and compare your water usage to a year ago by clicking on “Account Access.”
- Pay Your Bill Online – save a stamp, save gas and save a tree: Pay your bill online. Pay with your checking or money market account through eBill, IRWD’s safe and secure electronic billing system. By signing up, you will no longer receive a paper bill in the mail, but will receive email notifications informing you that your bill is ready.
- Questions About Your Bill? Not sure how to calculate your bill? Click on “Understanding Your Bill” and use our rate calculator to estimate your next bill and get answers to the most frequently asked billing questions. There is also a PDF of “Your Bill Explained” to help you.
- Start, Stop Service – New customer? Moving? You can start or stop your service by filling out the online form after clicking on “Start/Stop Service.” All services will be performed the next business day.
- Why is My Bill So High? Want to know why your water bill is higher than it should be? You may have a leak or may have been overwatering your yard. Get tips and tricks on how to fix these common issues by clicking on “Water Leaks.” This page also features helpful videos such as “How to Check Your Home for Leaks,” “How to Fix a Toilet Leak in 90 Seconds,” and “Top Three Reasons for a High Water Bill.”
IRWD Adds More Convenience for Customers
Additional Parking
Customers visiting the Irvine Ranch Water District administrative offices during regular business hours now have even more parking options, with the addition of five dedicated short-term parking spots.
“We appreciate customers’ patience as we re-organize our parking,” said Customer Service Manager Gina Jackson.
The parking lot at the IRWD Sand Canyon facility was expanded a year ago. The constant ebb and flow of customers coming in to pay bills, or conduct business at the engineering counter made it necessary to add the additional spaces.
Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Engineering counter hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information about IRWD is available on our website.
Contact: Shannon Reed, Public Affairs Manager
reeds@irwd.com, (949) 453-5500
