San Bernardino Valley and Regional Partners Celebrate Completion of Recharge Project

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About San Bernardino Valley San Bernardino Valley is a regional water agency with a service area that covers around 353 square miles in southwestern San Bernardino County and a population of approximately 714,000. With a dedicated team of experts and partnerships across the region, San Bernardino Valley is committed to building a resilient and sustainable water future for the community. Learn more at www.sbvmwd.com

District Board Embarks on Seventh Year of Leadership Together

BEAUMONT – Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District’s (BCVWD) welcomes back Andy Ramirez and Lona Williams to its Board of Directors following the recent California General Election on November 5, as voters re-elected incumbent Board members.

The current Board of Directors has achieved numerous accolades as a team over the past six years. The Board secured nearly $1.6 million in ARPA funding to improve District infrastructure for its customers, an additional $1.5 million in federal grants for meter improvements, as well as implementation of the Beaumont Master Drainage Plan Line 16 Project to protect the Cherry Valley community from flooding during wet weather.

Board Secretary Andy Ramirez, who has served on the Board since 2016, will continue representing Division 1 until 2028. Director Ramirez has over a decade of experience in municipal government and began his water industry career in the late 1990s, specializing in the installation of water and sewer pipelines.

“I’m honored to continue serving residents in my hometown of Beaumont,” said Director Ramirez. “2025 will be a pivotal year for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, with exciting advancements in infrastructure improvements and delivering excellent water resources. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in securing critical grants and enhancing our water systems. I look forward to serving you in the years to come and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our families and our community.”

Board Vice President Lona Williams will continue representing Division 2, a position she has held uncontested since she took over in 2018. Director Williams is a United States Army Veteran and has served the public at the local School District, City, County, and Federal levels during her professional career.

“It’s been an eventful six years serving on the Board for BCVWD. We’ve implemented significant capital improvements during this time, and I’m eager to see what we accomplish for our customers in the next four years,” said Director Williams.

The Board of Directors oversees much of the District’s operations to provide equitable and sustainable service to its ratepayers. The Board ensures infrastructure is maintained properly to provide BCVWD’s customers with a clean and reliable source of water while maintaining affordable rates.

With these recent seats filled, the BCVWD Board of Directors is decided for the next two years. In 2026, the terms for President Daniel Slawson, Treasurer David Hoffman and Board Director John Covington will be up for reelection. The current Board will work together to achieve even more for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley communities.

BCVWD Board meetings are typically held on the second Wednesday and fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the BCVWD main office, located at 560 Magnolia Avenue in Beaumont. These meetings are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend in person or participate virtually. For more information visit BCVWD.org.

Yuba Water Announces Major Milestone for Fish Habitat in the Yuba River Watershed

MARYSVILLE – Yuba Water Agency has completed a major step in its collaborative effort to formally launch the Yuba River Resilience Initiative, which includes projects to enhance and restore habitat in the Yuba River watershed for native fish, while safeguarding water supplies for Yuba County farmers. As part of that effort, Yuba Water’s board of directors today approved an environmental analysis that includes one of the initiative’s key restoration projects, the Nature-Like Fishway.

The collaborative agreement between Yuba Water, National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife was first announced in a press conference with Governor Gavin Newsom in May 2023 and is considered one of the most ambitious watershed recovery efforts in California.

“This initiative is another example of our efforts to redefine how local agencies can work together with our state and federal partners,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey. “We’re proactively engaging with resource agencies, asking what we can and should do to address things like fish habitat and water supply reliability, and we’re finding real solutions by doing things differently, collaboratively.”

The planned Nature-Like Fishway will help salmon and other threatened fish reach more than 10 miles of healthy spawning habitat in the lower Yuba River by enabling fish to swim around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Daguerre Point Dam. It also includes a modernized water diversion at the dam that will protect fish while supplying water to irrigators south of the lower Yuba River.

At the meeting, representatives of a local fly-fishing organization spoke, seeking assurance that the partners will meet with them to work out concerns surrounding predatory species also accessing the upper reaches of the lower Yuba River. Whittlesey explained that the state and federal partners are the regulatory and policy making agencies involved, and that all parties are committed to meeting with the sport fishing industry to discuss ways to minimize or mitigate this concern.

A second component of the Yuba River Resilience Initiative is a reintroduction program to support recovery efforts of spring-run Chinook salmon in the North Yuba River above New Bullards Bar Dam. That reintroduction program is not covered by this environmental document, because the state is leading that effort.

Approximately $45 million for the Nature-Like Fishway will be covered by Yuba Water, which is pursuing grant funds to help cover project costs. The remaining $30 million committed to the project will come from CDFW grant funding for river connectivity and salmon benefits.

The next steps to move this initiative forward are to pursue permitting for the Nature-Like Fishway and the modernized water diversion at Daguerre Point Dam.

Yuba Water approves three grants to local water districts for canal improvements ahead of spring irrigation season

Also at the board meeting today, Yuba Water approved two grants to Cordua Irrigation District and one grant to Browns Valley Irrigation District, all of which are cost-share grants, meaning the agency is matching funding already committed by the districts and others.

The $356,594 grant to Cordua will support their efforts to replace critical pipes ahead of the start of the 2025 irrigation season and improve the reliability of the water diversions within the district’s service area.

The second $300,000 grant to Cordua, as well as the $129,000 grant to BVID, will help both agencies replace four aging culverts – large pipes that run beneath roadways to move water – at the same time that the county is working on improvements to Loma Rica Road.

“This is one of those rare opportunities that we were able to align improvements that we already had planned with road improvements that the county was doing to save everyone some time and money,” explained Charley Mathews Jr., Cordua’s chairman of the board. “Not only does this maximize grant funding and minimize costs, it also reduces traffic impacts for local residents.”

Learn more about Yuba Water’s missions and investments at yubawater.org.

ACWA Co-Sponsors Legislation that Aims to Deter Hydrant Water Theft

• A fine not exceeding $2,500 for the first violation
• A fine not exceeding $5,000 for the second violation
• A fine not exceeding $10,000 for the third and each additional violation

Tools Available for National Groundwater Awareness Week

ACWA members can access videos, social media posts and educational materials online for participating in National Groundwater Awareness Week March 9-15. Member login is required.

Established by the National Groundwater Association (NGWA) in 1999, this event provides a weeklong opportunity for water agencies to showcase the extensive efforts across California to manage groundwater sustainability.
Agencies can participate in several ways, including by sharing educational materials that explain groundwater basics and information about what your agency does to manage the local groundwater supply. It is also an opportunity to explain how local agencies’ groundwater management efforts are connected to larger climate resiliency goals.

Groundwater Awareness Week is an annual observance established in 1999 to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater. It is also a platform to encourage yearly water well testing and well maintenance, and the promotion of policies impacting groundwater quality and supply.

District Showcases Unique Infrastructure in Limited Statewide Partnership

OXNARD – United Water Conservation District (UWCD) is now the first Southern California-based entity to partner with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on its innovative Flood Diversion and Recharge Enhancement (FDRE) Initiative to bolster water supply and reduce local flood risks. This effort is designed to mitigate California’s ever more extreme weather patterns and address ongoing climate shifts.

As one of only 15 statewide partners, UWCD’s contributions to the program include utilizing the Freeman Diversion facility to redirect some of the highest storm flows that could cause downstream erosion and flooding to nearby spreading basins where they are used to recharge the underlying aquifers. These flood diversions supplement UWCD’s normal diversions and recharge operations, resulting in remarkable improvements in groundwater levels and water quality in the region over the past two years. The supplemental groundwater recharge ultimately benefits municipal customers in the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, and several mutual water companies serving disadvantaged communities.

“Working with the State on this program allows us to demonstrate the capabilities of our infrastructure on a grander stage while also helping to further California’s overall water conservation goals,” said UWCD General Manager Mauricio Guardado.

In 2023, after nearly four decades of drought, a series of unprecedented atmospheric rivers caused Lake Tulare to fill and flood the surrounding area. In response, DWR secured emergency funding and launched the Temporary Flood Diversion Equipment and Recharge Enhancement Emergency Effort (2023 Emergency Effort). Partnering with seven local water agencies and districts, DWR successfully diverted more than 11,000 acre-feet (3.5 billion gallons) of water, helping mitigate flood damage and recharge local aquifers.

Building on the success of the 2023 Emergency Effort, DWR secured additional funding in December 2023 to launch the FDRE Initiative. The initiative includes key project activities such as temporary pump rentals and purchases, design and installation of protective screens, land clearing, development of temporary flood basins, and temporary conveyance system improvements.

With the additional funding, DWR signed emergency contracts in June 2024 with 15 local water agencies and districts, including UWCD. These contracts will provide flood diversion and groundwater recharge benefits through at least June 2026.

With the additional funding provided by DWR, UWCD was able to lease three trailer-mounted diesel pumps from July to September 2024 to facilitate the diversion of an additional 4,204 acre-feet (1.3 billion gallons) of water, which was used for groundwater recharge and direct surface water deliveries to its customers. UWCD will continue to leverage this unique opportunity to enhance groundwater recharge operations.

“We’re extremely grateful for the partnership that has been forged between UWCD and the Department of Water Resources,” said UWCD Water Resources Supervisor John Lindquist. “Our goal is to take advantage of the limited rainfall we receive and recharge the region for the next few winter seasons.”

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About United Water Conservation District

Since 1927, United Water Conservation District (District) has served as a leader among water agencies by managing, protecting, enhancing and securing the water resources of the Santa Clara River and Oxnard Coastal Plain. The District works to protect the environment’s natural attributes and conserves runoff from all major tributaries of the Santa Clara River, including Piru, Hopper, Sespe, and Santa Paula Creeks. Committed to managing the area’s water supplies through groundwater replenishment and the construction and operation of efficient water supply and delivery systems, the District serves as the conservator of groundwater resources that are utilized by the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, as well as Naval Base Ventura County and several mutual water districts, farms, and individual pumpers. The District also provides surface water for agricultural irrigation and treated drinking water to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. www.unitedwater.org

YLWD, OCFA and the City of Yorba Linda Partner to Address Homeowners’ Insurance Issues

On Tuesday, February 18th, the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD), in a collaborative effort with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the City of Yorba Linda, hosted a representative from the California Insurance Commissioner’s Office to address the challenges homeowners in our service area are experiencing with insurance providers due to the increased fire risk in our region.

This crucial meeting highlighted YLWD’s proactive measures and collaboration with CAL FIRE and OCFA to mitigate the risk of wildfires, while showcasing our water infrastructure and current fire protection initiatives. During the meeting, CAL FIRE and OCFA pilots conducted simultaneous training at our Wells Fargo Heli-Hydrant demonstrating how local fire authorities can save critical time to refill their water tanks to fight nearby fires.

To address widespread concerns and provide assistance to our community, YLWD, OCFA, and the City of Yorba Linda released a joint letter that emphasizes our proactive measures in mitigating wildfire risk through fire protection strategies and innovative water infrastructure. As essential public service providers for the residents of the City of Yorba Linda, we recognize the crucial role that both fire safety and reliable water supply play in safeguarding life, property, and the environment.

To view and download the joint letter, please click here. Residents with homeowner’s insurance challenges are encouraged to submit this letter to their insurance company. While there is no guarantee that this letter will resolve individual homeowner’s insurance problems, our goal is to ensure that every homeowner in our community has the support and information they need to manage their insurance issues.

For more information on the joint letter or YLWD’s wildfire preparedness response, please call 714-701-3023 or email pio@ylwd.com.

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West Basin Municipal Water District Announces New Chief Financial Officer

West Basin Municipal Water District is pleased to announce Wendy O’Kelly as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). An accomplished financial expert with decades of experience in both private and public sectors, O’Kelly brings extensive knowledge of strategic budget management and a proven record of delivering innovative financial solutions.

“Wendy’s results-driven leadership and proven expertise will be beneficial to the continued progress and advancement of this agency,” said West Basin General Manager E.J. Caldwell. “Her focus on long-term financial sustainability, paired with dedication to public service, positions her to make an impact through supporting the District’s growth and enhancing our ability to continue providing safe, reliable water to the communities we serve.”

For the last 10 years, O’Kelly has worked in financial management within local government, concentrating on operational efficiencies and budget and grant management. Prior to joining West Basin, she served as the Director of Administrative Services for the City of South Gate, including the water division. During her tenure, she spearheaded forward-thinking strategies and cost-saving measures that generated nearly $3 million in annual savings and increased revenues through a successful business development initiative. She also previously served the cities of Redondo Beach, Signal Hill and Stanton, and several private sector companies.

O’Kelly is a member of several professional associations including the Government Finance Officers Association, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and Women Leading in Government. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Colorado State University.

February 14, 2025 ACWA News Available

• ACWA Launches Strategic Plan to Enhance Water Policy Leadership
• Water Rights Issue Returns to Legislature
• ACWA Continues Outreach and Education on Southern California Fires
• Newsom Executive Order Eases Stormwater Capture and Storage

Khalifa to Lead ACWA as Interim Executive Director

The ACWA Board of Directors has named Marwan Khalifa as Interim Executive Director of the association, effective Feb. 24, overseeing day-to-day operations of the association and managing approximately 40 staff in Sacramento and Washington D.C.

Khalifa serves as Chief Financial Officer and District Treasurer for Mesa Water District, where he has worked since 2017 and will continue through Feb. 20. Prior to his appointment, he also served as Chair of ACWA’s Finance Committee and member of the ACWA Board and Executive Committee.

“I’m so pleased to see Marwan assume this pivotal role. As a recent ACWA Board member and staff member at an ACWA member agency, he has a deep understanding of the association’s priorities and our members’ challenges,” said ACWA President Cathy Green. “Under his leadership, staff will continue to implement the Board-approved Strategic Plan and provide comprehensive leadership and advocacy on behalf of members.”

At Mesa Water, Khalifa provided strategic leadership in achieving a number of significant financial and operational objectives. He has also served as Audit & Fiscal Committee Member for California Special Districts Association, is a member of the California Board of Accountancy, California Society of Certified Public Accountants, California Society of Municipal Financial Officers and Government Finance Officers Association.

“It is an honor to be entrusted by ACWA’s Board to serve the association, our members, and our water industry colleagues throughout California,” Khalifa said. “I look forward to working with and guiding ACWA’s world class team in advancing the priorities of our members and the Board by focusing on state and federal advocacy, outreach, and visionary thought leadership.”

Former Executive Director Dave Eggerton announced his resignation on Jan. 31. The Board named long-time staff member Tiffany Giammona, Senior Director of Operations and Member Engagement, as Acting Executive Director until the Interim Executive Director takes over.

The Board also has started a nationwide recruitment with plans to announce a new Executive Director later this year.