Welcome to the February 2024 issue of the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) eCurrents newsletter, where we’re excited to share upcoming events, helpful tips, and inspiration to kick off the new year! In this issue, discover the mid-winter water supply outlook and how a decline in imported water use and the promise of El Niño will impact the region. And, with heavy rainfall comes surface runoff, so consider the benefits of organic gardening with six (6) easy ways to promote plant health and mitigate the risk of harmful pollutants entering our waterways. In case you missed it, we kicked off 2024 with a wide range of events, including two (2) clinics in partnership with Inside the Outdoors for Orange County Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts to practice good water stewardship and a MWDOC Water Policy Forum & Dinner, where five (5) SoCal water leaders shared their visions for the future of our water supply. Finally, we invite you and the whole family to join us at Shipley Nature Center for a California Native Plant Sale with a variety of beautiful native plants that will ensure you won’t want to leave empty-handed—all of this and more in our latest issue of eCurrents.
As always, if you have any comments or suggested topics for future articles, please email us at info@mwdoc.com. Thank you for subscribing!
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MWDOC is governed by a seven-member
Board of Directors. To learn more, click on the image above, or visit our website at www.mwdoc.com.
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For a complete list of upcoming and archived MWDOC meetings, click on the image above,
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CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SALE
February 24, 2024
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Hey, OC residents! Are you looking to spruce up your garden this spring? Join us at Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach for a California Native Plant Sale on Saturday, February 24, from 9 am - 1 pm! Bring the whole family for FREE admission, native plants, fresh organic worm compost, and more at this pop-up event!
CLICK HERE to view the flyer and find more information.
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FIX A LEAK WEEK
March 18-24, 2024
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Did you know? Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste up to 90 gallons of water daily. Get ready to chase down those pesky leaks during EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week! MWDOC will post helpful water-saving tips on our social media pages all week to help you find and fix indoor and outdoor leaks in just a few easy steps. It’s also a great time to upgrade to water-efficient appliances with a WaterSense label.
CLICK HERE for helpful tips to detect sneaky leaks today!
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ORANGE COUNTY WATER SUPPLY
Colorado River Inspection Trip
Did you know? Your water travels hundreds of miles before it gets to your home! A group of 26 individuals had the unique opportunity to join Directors Larry Dick and Dennis Erdman to see first-hand where Orange County’s water journey begins. The tour, co-hosted with The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, highlighted the Colorado River Aqueduct and the iconic Hoover Dam, offering participants unique insight into the complex processes and monumental engineering feats that bring water from the Colorado River to our taps.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Colorado River Aqueduct.
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GIRL SCOUTS PATCH CLINIC
January 6, 2024
At the scenic Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, 39 Orange County Girl Scouts and their families gathered for an MWDOC Water Resources & Conservation Patch Clinic in partnership with Inside the Outdoors. The clinic featured a guided tour of the nature preserve, and immersive, hands-on activities, including constructing water filters and water cycle models. Participants experienced first-hand how water connects all living things and left the clinic equipped with the knowledge and inspiration needed to become lifelong water stewards.
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SCOUTS BSA MERIT BADGE CLINIC
January 27, 2024
On January 27, MWDOC and Inside the Outdoors welcomed 50 OC Scouts BSA and their families for an exciting Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Clinic at Shipley Nature Center! Through hands-on, STEM-based activities and a guided nature hike, Scouts were encouraged to think critically about their relationship with water and examine their role in environmental stewardship.
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MWDOC WATER POLICY FORUM & DINNER
January 31, 2024
Did you know? MWDOC’s first Water Policy Forum & Dinner of 2024 was last week! More than 200 attendees gathered for an evening of networking and knowledge sharing featuring an expert panel of general managers across Southern California who provided their insights, strategies, and visions for sustainable water management. We hope to see you at the next one!
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5 THINGS TO KNOW!
About the Mid-Winter Outlook 2023-24
Kevin Hostert, Senior Water Resources Analyst
Municipal Water District of Orange County
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Discover five (5) mid-winter findings that may influence the outlook of Orange County water supply, from impacts on imported water to the uncertainty of El Niño.
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6 EASY WAYS!
To Embrace Organic Gardening
Alana Salas-Yoshii, Public Affairs Intern
Municipal Water District of Orange County
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Have you ever wondered how to get started in organic gardening? Learn how the absence of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers fosters biodiversity, promotes plant health, and mitigates the risk of harmful pollutants entering waterways.
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OCWD’S CHILDREN'S WATER EDUCATION FESTIVAL
Inviting Volunteers, Presenters and Sponsors
Presented by the Orange County Water District (OCWD), the Children’s Water Education Festival is the largest environmental education event of its kind for third, fourth, and fifth graders. On March 27-28, the festival at UC Irvine, will welcome nearly 6,000 Orange County elementary students, and OCWD wants you to be a part of it! Help teach students about protecting water, sustainability, and STEAM by signing up as a volunteer, presenter, or sponsor.
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REAL PEOPLE, REAL SAVINGS
City of Irvine
From lawn to outdoor oasis! Discover how this OC homeowner turned their 475 sq. ft. of thirsty grass into a water-smart paradise filled with colorful blooms, dense greenery, and water-saving features that provide year-round benefits.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this garden transformation and find inspiration for your next garden project!
CLICK HERE to start saving with our water-smart rebates!
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What kind of content are you consuming MOST on social media?
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Educational material (e.g., tutorials, articles, skill development videos)
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Entertainment content (e.g., memes, funny videos, music, movies)
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News and current events (e.g., daily news, political commentary, global events)
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Lifestyle and health (e.g., fitness tips, cooking recipes, wellness advice)
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Artistic and creative work (e.g., photography, paintings, DIY crafts)
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Business and marketing (e.g., product ads, brand promos, industry news)
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Hey OC! If the weather forecast calls for rain and your soil calls for water, let nature do the work! Learn about how you can save water, time, and money with these 5 Water-Smart Winter Wonderland tips from our most recent eCurrents newsletter! #OCisWaterSmart || https://mwdoc.com/thingstoknow
-Facebook, January 26
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Hey OC! Did you know? MWDOC and @insidetheoutdoors hosted another informative, dynamic, and engaging scouts’ clinic! 50 Scouts BSA toured
-Instagram, February 2
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Municipal Water District of Orange County
Phone: (714) 963-3058 Fax: (714) 964-9389
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