Wednesday March 12, 2025
Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror —
Yucaipa Valley Water District will collaborate with the environmental firm Dudek for the 2025 Habitat Monitoring Program, the board of directors decided at their meeting on Feb. 20. The agreement with Dudek amounts to $63,750, and Resource Manager Jennifer Ares provided an overview of the program at the meeting.
The Yucaipa Valley Water District began discharging to San Timoteo Creek in 1986, and highly treated recycled water has helped sustain the riparian vegetation in the area. Now YVWD is following an adaptive management plan which includes gradual discharge reductions to maximize the re-use of recycled water.
“The resource agencies require us to maintain or make sure the health of the habitat is intact, especially when we reduce our discharges to bring in recycled water,” Ares said.
As part of the program, YVWD is required to oversee groundwater levels and vegetation and to use aerial imagery analysis in their monitoring.