Published: Jun 28, 2013 | 21:09 PM

IRWD Partnerships in Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship is a driving force at the Irvine Ranch Water District

Stewardship is a driving force behind Irvine Ranch Water District’s many environmental programs, because as water providers we understand how important it is to protect natural resources for future generations.  It’s so important, in fact, that we have formed strong partnerships with the Audubon Society and the Shadetree Partnership to improve important stewardship initiatives.

The Sea & Sage Chapter of the National Audubon Society has long been a force for conservation, research and environmental education in Orange County, focusing on classes, field trips and volunteer activities. As such, the group’s interests and ours align perfectly at the IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary.  Audubon House, one of the historic homes on the site, was provided to Sea & Sage by IRWD and serves as the group’s home.

Audubon House offers a reference library, nature shop and exhibits of local birds, and is the gathering point for the group’s public tours of the marsh and other educational programs.  Working with Audubon, IRWD has been able to reach the approximately 3,000 school children and 12,000 other visitors to the marsh each year, increasing their understanding and appreciation of the wildlife and the water quality functions of the marsh.

The Shadetree Partnership is a volunteer organization that promotes more livable communities by planting shadetrees in urban Orange County. Because shadetrees are good for water conservation and water quality, IRWD has become one of their primary partners. We have worked with volunteers to plant more than 25,000 trees throughout our service area.

Native shadetrees use less water than turf, and their shade reduces the loss of irrigation water to evaporation.  Because their roots hold soil together, they also protect water resources by reducing silt runoff into local waterways.  The group’s shadetree nursery in Irvine, which grows thousands of trees, shrubs and groundcovers using micro-spray emitters to spray IRWD’s recycled water at each plant, lets volunteers experience an example of highly efficient irrigation.