District Celebrates Community and Conservation at First-Ever Festival
ROWLAND HEIGHTS — Rowland Water District (RWD) hosted its inaugural Discover Rowland Fest on May 10 at the District’s headquarters, offering local residents engaging educational and interactive activities focused on sustainable water use.
More than 200 people attended the free event, including many families with children from throughout the RWD community. Guests learned how each District department supports water conservation through designated booths, live demonstrations, and landscape workshops.
“Our first Discover Rowland Fest was a tremendous success,” said RWD Marketing & Social Media Coordinator Brittnie Gildea. “It gave families a fun, memorable way to connect with the District and gain a better understanding of how their water system operates.”
The event featured a wide range of family-friendly experiences, including the chance to sit in and explore the District’s backhoes and dump trucks during the Touch-a-Truck exhibit and get hands-on with a mini excavator in a controlled environment.
The Wyland Foundation’s Mobile Learning Center was available for guests to explore throughout the event. The Foundation’s museum on wheels featured a variety of water conservation programming, including a 40-person multi-sensory theater presentation and seven unique learning stations.
Rounding out the event’s educational offerings, the Green Gardens Group (G3) held two landscape workshops for guests who registered prior to the event. The first workshop focused on best practices for removing turf and replacing it with a budget-friendly, water-wise landscape, while the second debunked myths about common landscaping misconceptions, including what plants actually need to thrive and the differences between irrigation methods.
“Discover Rowland Fest is part of our ongoing commitment to build a stronger partnership with the people we serve through education, engagement, and collaboration,” added RWD General Manager Tom Coleman.
Building on the success of this event, RWD plans to make it an annual tradition for the community, with the next Discover Rowland Fest planned for May 16, 2026.
Financial Stewardship Meets Sustainability in Agency Budget
BEAUMONT, CA (June 19, 2025) – On June 2, 2025, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA)’s Board of Directors underscored their commitment to financial responsibility and regional water security as they adopted the General Fund budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
“Accountability and trustworthiness are core values at SGPWA. We manage every dollar entrusted to us with care,” SGPWA Board President Mickey Valdivia said. “Our annual budget gives us the tools to plan for a sustainable water future for all.”
In the annual budget, SGPWA balances the region’s current needs with intentional investments in long-term stability. This fiscal year, SGPWA proposes to spend $6.5 million to construct the County Line Recharge facility. This critical project will stabilize water storage in the Yucaipa Subbasin, making reliable water accessible to 18,000 people.
The County Line Recharge Project joins other recent strategic investments, including drilling monitoring wells to better understand the water beneath our feet, expanding the gap funding program to facilitate critical work for small water systems throughout the Pass area, and installing up to seven Heli-Hydrants to protect the community.
While investing in much-needed projects, SGPWA will add to its reserves this fiscal year. Staff proposed a slight reduction in income and expenses to support this effort.
Key goals for this fiscal year include maintaining financial strength while planning for the future; investing in generational projects for reliability; leveraging American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for regional resiliency; supporting smaller retailers and stakeholders; and expanding local recharge and regional collaboration.
The Board of Directors approved a total General Fund budget that includes $25.3 million in income, $22 million in expenditures, and a net positive balance at year-end of $3.3 million. This enables SGPWA to meet Agency needs, advance vital infrastructure, and add to its reserves by the end of the fiscal year. To learn more about SGPWA’s budget process, visit sgpwa.org.
Helix Water District Announces 2025 WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winners
Helix Water District is proud to announce the 2025 WaterSmart Landscape Contest winners, Sinead and Lance G., whose transformation of their Fletcher Hills front yard in El Cajon showcases what a drive for sustainability and some family effort can create. The annual contest celebrates residents who demonstrate outstanding water-efficient landscaping through design, plant selection, irrigation and maintenance.
When Sinead and Lance moved in, their home had a struggling front lawn with a dying pine tree. The couple replaced over 1,200 square feet of lawn with a water-smart, eco-friendly design that boosts curb appeal. “Our motivation was centered around doing our part to support the local ecosystem—bees, birds, butterflies, moths and plants with adaptations to survive on low water,” said Sinead.
The couple purchased their home in 2020 and, with the help from family, spent over a year clearing Bermuda grass to make way for a flourishing garden. “First, my dad, husband and I worked together on weekends to dig out the crab grass at least five inches,” she said. After removing the grass, they used cardboard and black plastic tarp to smother the remaining roots—a labor-intensive process that took six months to dig out and another year to solarize.
Once the area was prepped, they hired a local gardener to level the yard and then Sinead and her husband covered the soil with cardboard and weed cloth before planting. “To my surprise, when we started planting, we observed a substantial number of worms in the ground, which is typically a sign of healthy soil.”
Every detail of the yard’s design was thoughtfully hand-crafted. Sinead sketched out a plan that included two river rock gardens and carefully chose planting areas. “My mom is a talented gardener, so she helped me design the shape of the walkway and plant placement,” she shared. Her favorite addition was a Desert Museum Palo Verde tree, positioned with care after consulting DigAlert, a free utility marking service.
The plant palette includes many native favorites like Cleveland Sage, Desert Mallow, Ceanothus Concha Lilac, White Sage, Milkweed and many others. The variety of plants offer vibrant blooms and plenty of habitat for local species. “A WaterSmart landscape allows us to serve nature; after all, our home was built on local wildlife land. The least we can do is share our little plot of land to offer native animals and plants a place to grow, eat and find shelter.”
For simplicity and preference, Sinead opted not to install irrigation and instead waters her garden by hand. “This has worked out well; the plants get water, and I get to spend time outdoors admiring blooms and critters.” The couple also created two rain gardens using rocks to capture and reuse rainwater, keeping the water on the property and maximizing a free resource.
Now that it’s established, their landscape needs very little watering—just once every two weeks in summer, a bit more before a Santa Ana wind and nothing extra during the cooler months when rainfall is enough. The result is a thriving, diverse and low-maintenance landscape, created with care, purpose and a deep love for nature.
Photos of Sinead and her family’s garden will be showcased at landscapecontest.com, alongside other regional winners and on Helix Water District’s website at hwd.com.
The WaterSmart Landscape Contest runs from January through mid-May each year. To learn more, visit Helix’s website, Facebook.com/HelixWater, or X at @HelixWater.
About Helix Water District
Helix Water District is a local government agency responsible for tap water in San Diego’s East County suburbs. The district provides water treatment for a population of 500,000 and distributes water to 278,000 people in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and other unincorporated areas of the county.
CVWD Completes Critical Pipeline Project in Eastern Coachella Valley
CVWD celebrates the completion of the Avenue 66 Transmission Main Project, also known as the Saint Anthony Mobile Home Park Water Consolidation project, which will now provide the critical backbone infrastructure to immediately connect three mobile home parks to CVWD’s domestic water system and up to 35 future connections.
The Project included the installation of approximately 26,723 linear feet of 30-inch-diameter water transmission main pipe along Avenue 66 and approximately 4,463 linear feet of 12-inch-diameter water transmission main along Lincoln Street, in the unincorporated area of Riverside County.
The three mobile home parks being connected are Saint Anthony, Seferino Huerta, and Manuela Garcia. The Avenue 66 Transmission Main also provides water supply reliability to CVWD’s domestic water system serving the communities of Mecca, North Shore, and Bombay Beach.
Many Eastern Coachella Valley community members receive water from failing or at-risk private water systems and unreliable sanitation systems. When systems fail or the power goes out, families can go without water for days.
“This project will change the region for generations to come,” said Cástulo Estrada, CVWD Board Vice President and a founding member of the Disadvantaged Communities Infrastructure Task Force. “Access to safe, affordable water and sewer services brings additional benefits, including new housing opportunities and economic growth. I’m grateful to the District Board, staff, and our state partners for their collaboration and support in making these impactful projects possible.”
This Project is part of a multi-year effort by CVWD’s Disadvantaged Communities Infrastructure Task Force to secure funding for projects to consolidate and connect thousands of Eastern Coachella Valley residents to CVWD’s domestic water system.
“Communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley have for too long experienced stark inequities, especially in access to water and sanitation. The work of CVWD and its Disadvantaged Communities Infrastructure Task Force on the Avenue 66 project is a model of how to build the partnership necessary to bring safe drinking water to the 2% of Californians who still don’t have it,” said Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “I am proud of the collective leadership our partners have shown on the many state-funded drinking water projects like this one that are now coming to completion across the state.”
Project funding includes a $23.4 million grant from the State Water Resources Control Board, a $7 million grant from the Department of Water Resources, appropriated through the Budget Act of 2021, supported by former Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, $1.2 million from Proposition 1 Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) implementation grant, and $165,665 from the Disadvantaged Community Involvement grant.
Projects like this highlight DWR’s commitment to the human right to water by helping ensure these communities have access to clean, affordable water,” said Arthur Hinojosa, Division Manager of the Division of Regional Assistance at DWR. “The work CVWD and our partners have done is a prime example of the benefits of building strong partnerships in support of integrated regional water management. We’re proud of the completion of this very important project and will continue to support communities across the Golden State with such efforts.”
To read about all of our state and federal partners and other projects, visit: cvwd.org/DACtaskforce
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Coachella Valley Water District is a public agency governed by a five-member board of directors. The district serves the community with domestic water, agricultural irrigation and drainage, wastewater collection and treatment, nonpotable and recycled water, regional stormwater protection, groundwater management, and water conservation. It serves approximately 114,000 residential and business customers across 1,000 square miles, primarily in Riverside County, as well as portions of Imperial and San Diego counties.
Media Contact: Lorraine Garcia
Communication Manager/PIO
Email: Lorraine.Garcia@cvwd.org
Office: (760) 398-2661, ext. 2549
Cell: (760) 695-4007
Annual Report Shows PWD’s Water Quality Met All Drinking Water Standards
PALMDALE – Palmdale Water District (PWD) customers wanting detailed information about their water quality can now access the newest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which shows PWD’s water met all federal and state guidelines in 2024. The CCR is a comprehensive annual report detailing where PWD’s water comes from, what it contains and how it compares to drinking water standards set by the state. Required by the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, the report is due July 1 of each year. “I’m always pleased to inform our ratepayers that the quality of water they have been receiving met or exceeded strict federal and state standards,” said PWD Water Quality and Regulatory Affairs Supervisor Amanda Thompson. “My staff and I are responsible for collecting and testing water samples throughout the year to ensure that our customers are receiving high-quality water. It’s an important responsibility that we don’t take lightly. When the annual CCR is published, we hope that customers take interest and learn about their water quality.” Last year, PWD completed more than 15,000 tests for over 80 regulated contaminants. The CCR includes an easy-to-read Water Quality Data Chart that is divided into two standards – Primary and Secondary. Primary standards identify contaminants in water that may be immediately harmful to humans or affect their health if consumed for long periods of time. Secondary standards highlight water qualities related to aesthetics, such as taste, mineral content, odor, color and turbidity. In addition to the water quality data, the comprehensive report has information about PWD’s three water sources – State Water Project, Littlerock Dam and groundwater wells – and the amount supplied by each in 2024. The new CCR can be viewed on the PWD website at https://www.palmdalewater.org/2024_ccr/. For hard copies in English and Spanish, please contact the Customer Care Department at 661-947-4111. Since 1918, the Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. We pride ourselves on providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency. For more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org.###
Regulation on State, Local Fleets Still in Effect
President Donald Trump signed three measures on June 12 to block California’s Clean Air Act Waivers to administer California Air Resources Board (CARB) programs including: the Advanced Clean Cars Program, the Advanced Clean Truck Program, and the Omnibus Low Nitrogen Emissions Program. These three measures are not related to the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, so CARB is still enforcing the state and local fleet requirements which were effective as of Jan. 1, 2024.
In response to President Trump’s measures, Gov. Gavin Newsom released Executive Order N-27-25 which reaffirms California’s commitment to phasing out gas and diesel vehicles through existing and new regulations. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against President Trump and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.
ACWA staff is continuing to work with CARB to advocate for flexibilities for public agencies’ compliance with the ACF regulation that keep essential public services intact and is working with ACWA members to describe compliance challenges faced by individual fleets.
Yuba Water Announces Watercraft Screening at New Bullards Bar
MARYSVILLE – Yuba Water Agency announced today that it will launch a new watercraft screening pilot program later this summer at New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Yuba County. The pilot program aims to prevent the spread of the golden mussel, a highly invasive species found in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta last fall that could pose a significant ecological and economic threat to the Yuba River watershed. “This is a first phase that will allow us to gather real-time information specific to Bullards Bar and learn what approaches will be most effective here,” said Yuba Water Senior Environmental Specialist Jessica Nichols. “Our goal is to implement preventative measures that are practical and protect the reservoir and our water conveyance facilities, while continuing to allow recreational access.” The pilot screenings will take place daily from 6 a.m. to dusk at the Cottage Creek and Dark Day boat launches and are free to all visitors. Screenings will take about five minutes and look for visible signs of mussels, aquatic vegetation, mud, standing water or risk factors such as recent use in infested waterways. Any vessel with visible mussels, unknown mud, aquatic vegetation or other debris or excessive standing water present will not be allowed to launch. To avoid launch denial, boaters should follow these steps before arriving at New Bullards Bar:- Clean off aquatic plants, animal material, mud, dirt and other debris from your watercraft, trailer and equipment.
- Drain the bilge, ballasts, live-wells and other water-containing areas of the vessel.
- Dry water-containing areas of the watercraft, trailer and equipment, including bilge, interior, hull, live well and other areas where water could collect.
- Yuba Water Invasive Mussel Prevention Program page
- Video showing how to properly inspect, clean, drain and dry vessels
MWDOC Scouts Clinics Educate Orange County Youth and Their Families
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) hosted four water education clinics that taught more than 100 Orange County (OC) Scouts BSA and more than 50 OC Girl Scouts and provided a path for these youth to earn recognition through merit badges and patches. More than 80 family members, including parents and siblings, attended the clinics.
This year, the four water agency partners were El Toro Water District, Mesa Water District, Trabuco Canyon Water District, and Orange County Water District. MWDOC partnered with each agency to co-host a clinic that showcased their facilities and featured staff who shared insights into water-related careers such as Wastewater Operator, Public Affairs Coordinator, and Water Resources Planner.
MWDOC’s partnership with the Orange County Department of Education was essential to this program’s success. Their Inside the Outdoors program provided an educator for every Scouts clinic to assist in leading activities.
MWDOC collaborates with local water providers and educational partners to host hands-on STEM clinics introducing Scouts to the complexities of Orange County water delivery. These water education clinics provide youth with essential water education, empowering them to make informed decisions that impact our future water supply. Through interactive activities and guided facility tours, Scouts explore how water is sourced and treated, why local water resources matter, and how they can help conserve water in their daily lives.
As part of its multifaceted public education effort, MWDOC provides the Scouting America, Orange County Council’s Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge for Scouts BSA and the MWDOC Water Resources and Conservation Patch for all levels of Orange County Girl Scouts. Follow MWDOC on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to see recap videos of what the Scouts did during the clinics.
For more information on the MWDOC Scouts programs, visit www.mwdoc.com/scouts.
For more information on MWDOC water education initiatives, visit www.mwdoc.com/water-education/k-16-water-education-initiatives/.
Trump Administration Releases Detailed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 30, 2025, the Trump administration released a supplemental appendix to its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The supplemental appendix provides a greater level of detail than the “skinny budget” released earlier in May.
The President’s budget would reduce non-military spending by approximately 23 percent. These cuts are spread across different federal agencies at various levels. While the President’s budget is an important document, it is ultimately up to Congress to set funding levels and appropriate funds for federal programs. ACWA is working closely with partner organizations and allies on Capitol Hill to secure robust funding for water infrastructure.
Topline Takeaways
The Bureau of Reclamation budget request is for $1.2 Billion, a reduction of approximately $600 million as compared to last year. These cuts come from a number of programs across Reclamation. ACWA is especially concerned about the recommendation to zero out (allocate no funding to) Reclamation’s WaterSmart programs (including Title XVI), WIIN Act Storage Funding, Water Conservation Field Services Program, and Aging Infrastructure Program funding.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget request is for $4.16 billion, a 54 percent cut. ACWA is especially concerned about cuts to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF). The budget requests $155 million for the CWSRF and $150 million for the DWSRF. This represents a $2.4 billion dollar decrease to the SRF programs.
The Army Corps of Engineers budget request is for $6.6 billion $2 billion or a 23 percent reduction over enacted funding levels. Funding cuts include zeroing out funding for new Corps WIFIA projects.
The Department of Agriculture budget request totals $23 billion, a decrease of $6.7 billion or 23 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level.
Detailed Summary
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—USDA FY 2026 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for USDA totals $23 billion, a decrease of $6.7 billion or 23 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level.
- $112 million for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for conservation measures including farm irrigation, land drainage, water management, and pollutant control.
- $265 million for Rural Development Programs to plan and develop infrastructure projects regarding aging rural water and wastewater systems.
- $0 for the Source Water Protection Program (SWPP) to help prevent water pollution and improve water quality.
- $78 million for U.S. Forest Service capital improvements and maintenance including facilities, roads, and trails.
- $1.47 billion for U.S. Forest Service management, protection, improvement, and utilization of the National Forest System.
- $759 million for the Forest Service Operations to support facilities maintenance and leases, information technology, and administrative support.
- $0 for wildland fire management and instead proposes to consolidate USDA and Department of the Interior (DOI) wildland fire management programs under a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service within DOI, and transfer appropriations of $175 million. More information on the U.S. Wildland Fire Service can be found in the Department of the Interior summary section of this update.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)—USACE FY 2026 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for USACE totals $6.66 billion, a decrease of $2 billion or 23 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level.
- $1.5 billion for construction, $2.3 billion for operation and maintenance, and $130 million for investigations to support water resources development, management, and restoration.
- $0 in new funding for USACE’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—EPA FY 2026 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for EPA totals $4.16 billion, a decrease of $5 billion or 54 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level.
- $155 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $150 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which offers low-cost financing for water quality projects. This is a $2.4 billion cut to the SRF programs.
- $8 million for EPA’s WIFIA program, which helps fund water and wastewater projects.
- $282 million for the Superfund program to help clean up hazardous waste sites. The budget also proposes significant changes to Superfund funding by transitioning the Superfund Remedial program to Superfund excise tax revenues.
- Funding is not directly mentioned for PFAS, however the proposed budget states it plans to “address 40 different PFAS compounds in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater through cutting-edge methods.”
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)—DOI FY 2026 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for DOI totals $14.4 billion, (this figure includes funding for a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service which would require legislation from Congress). The DOI request is for $11.9 billion in current authority, or $11.7 billion in net discretionary authority.
- $1.2 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to help manage water resources such as storage and delivery projects in the 17 Western states. BOR proposed funding includes California-specific projects such as $32 million for the California Bay-Delta Restoration, $65.4 million for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, and $13.6 million for the San Joaquin Restoration Fund. As noted above, Reclamation’s WaterSmart programs (including Title XVI), WIIN (Section 4007) Storage funding, Water Conservation Field Services Program, and Aging Infrastructure Program are all zeroed out.
- $936 million for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), including $827 million for the management of lands, resources, and wildlife habitat.
- $1.1 billion for the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the management of fish and wildlife resources, species recovery activities, and construction to maintain infrastructure.
- $891.6 million for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) programs relating to surveys, investigations, and research that provide science information on natural hazards, ecosystems, water, energy and mineral resources.
- U.S. Wildland Fire Service – as discussed above the President’s budget proposes consolidating Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service wildland fire fighting functions on federal lands into the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service housed within the Department of the Interior. A total of $6.55 billion is requested for the U.S. wildland Fire Service which includes $3.7 billion for operations and $2.85 billion for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund. Establishing the U.S. Wildland Fire Service would require specific authorization from Congress.
U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)—DOC FY 2026 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for DOC totals $8.4 billion, a decrease of $1.76 billion or 17 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level.
- $4.45 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support weather forecasting, coastal restoration, and fisheries.
- $790 million for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The budget requests also includes a proposed restructuring and transfer of NMFS responsibilities for endangered species and marine mammal protection to DOI’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This transfer of authorities is similar to H.R. 1894 (The FISH Act), legislation that is supported by ACWA.
- $1.3 billion for the National Weather Service, a $59 million increase, for timely and accurate weather-related warnings and forecast- related research.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—DHS FEMA FY 26 budget summary
- The FY 2026 proposed budget for FEMA totals $ 36.2 billion, an increase of $3.94 billion, or 17 percent from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget level. This includes $26.5 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, which reimburses states for disaster cleanup and recovery.
- $2.38 billion for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), a $495 million dollar cut for CISA which identifies and manages risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure including water and wastewater systems that provide critical services like drinking water, fire suppression, and sanitation.
For more information on the Trump administration’s budget proposal and the congressional appropriations process, please contact ACWA Federal Relations Director, Ian Lyle, at ianl@acwa.com.
New Member Resources Available
Members can access two new resources developed through the ACWA Local Government Committee.
A “Paving Standards Best Practices” describes the challenges water agencies face with paving standards that may vary across jurisdictions and expand beyond statutory requirements.
The two-page handout provides recommended best practices local governments can follow when constructing or maintaining underground infrastructure to enhance coordination and collaboration regarding paving standards requirements.
The Local Government Committee has also updated an ACWA webpage that outlines impacts on water agencies from housing densification, spurred by legislation that streamlines the process behind building accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. These structures can be attached to a residence, located within a residential lot or converted from an existing structure. ADUs can create significant financial and planning challenges for many ACWA member agencies.
The webpage includes existing law, helpful links and examples of policies and guidelines on ADUs that have been adopted by ACWA member agencies.