What’s New With WELL April – June
Over the past couple of months, WELL staff have been busy with different programs and activities. We are excited to share what we’ve been hard at work on:
- Twelve Fellows will embark on their water education journey and join the UnTapped Fellowship Cohort for summer 2024! Twelve elected leaders from across California will begin the UnTapped Fellowship program in July.
- WELL graduates seventh Cohort of the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program! WELL hosted four more UnTapped Sessions and held its graduation in Sacramento for the seventh UnTapped Fellowship cohort.
- Applications for WELL UnTapped Winter 2025 are open!
- New team members join WELL: We’d like to welcome Giselle Gándara as WELL’s new Southern California Civic and Political Engagement Manager and Marissa Stanley as our new Program Manager!
- WUN sponsored inspection trip of Hoover Dam and the Colorado River: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California sponsored an inspection trip of Hoover Dam and the Colorado River for the WELL UnTapped Network.
- WELL hosted Growing Water Smart Workshop: Early in June, WELL in partnership with the Sonoran Institute hosted the second California Growing Water Smart workshop in Redlands.
- WELLos Spotlight: As our WELLos continue their leadership roles and enact positive change in their communities, we continue to highlight their efforts to embody WELL’s mission.
- Partner Spotlight: Learn about new collaborations, major achievements, and the positive impact our partners are making in California and the water sector.
- California Water News: Catch some of the latest noteworthy water news from March through June.
- WELL’s newsletter La Cascada will now be quarterly.
Newsletter Commentary
Dear Friends of WELL,
June 20 marks the official first day of summer! With that milestone also comes the official kickoff of wildfire season. Wildfires can damage water quality when they burn and long after the fires go out, leading to increased flooding and erosion in watersheds.
These wildfire challenges can impact your constituents during the rainy season, which is why it is important to educate yourself NOW about the water challenges impacting your region and district. This summer we will conduct a series of water workshops hosted by graduates of our WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program. Read below to find the workshop closest to you and how you can be better prepared to address your constituents’ water workshop. We urge elected leaders to take proactive steps well before any water issues reach a critical mass.
This quarter we have also graduated an additional 16 Fellows from the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program. To date, we have 84 individuals have completed this important program. We have an additional 12 Fellows starting the next cohort in July 2024, and we have already launched applications for the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Winter 2025 Program. You can find more information and the Fellowship meeting dates listed below. If you have any questions about joining the cohort, please contact our new Program Manager, Marissa Stanley, at marissa@latinosforwater.org. As this network continues to grow, we rejoice in the knowledge that by educating local elected officials about California water policy, we are moving our Latino communities toward water equity.
¡Sí Se Puede!
Victor Griego Paul C. Hernandez
Founder & Board President Executive Director
Announcing WELL UnTapped Fellowship Cohort for Summer Class 2024
Meet the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program Summer Class of 2024!
After a competitive application process, we have selected 14 locally elected Latino leaders in California to embark on the UnTapped Fellowship program. This class comes from all areas of the state, yet they are united by their passion for water knowledge and the desire to effectively support their communities.
- Andrae Gonzales, Vice Mayor, City of Bakersfield
- Angie Jimenez, Councilmember, City of Montebello
- Cassandra Chase, Vice Mayor, City of Lakewood
- Dr. Jaguana “Jag” Lathan, Trustee, Antioch Unified School District
- Israel Fuentes, Board Clerk, Colton Joint Unified School District,
- Jeanette Flores, Trustee, Charter Oak Unified School District
- Joy Langford, President, The Water Replenishment District of Southern California
- Juanita Doplemore, Trustee, Compton College
- Julia Hernandez, Mayor, City of San Joaquin
- Neftali Galarza, Councilmember, City of Coachella
- Ollie Cantos, Councilmember, City of West Covina
- Victor Aguilar Jr., Councilmember, City of San Leandro
Over the next six months beginning in July, these Fellows will embark on their water education journey, learning how to best make an impact on California water policy while also addressing their individual community water challenges. The UnTapped program creates an opportunity for local leaders to engage with water issues by exploring California’s water history and governance, infrastructure, finance, and the impact of climate change on water supply and quality. This curriculum is taught through the lens of the human right to water, with eyes on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the water sector.
WELL UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2024 Hosts Fifth Session in Tehachapi
The UnTapped Fellowship winter class of 2024 gathered in the Tehachapi region and the San Joaquin Valley April 12 and 13 to attend an interdisciplinary forum in which Fellows learned the intricate dynamics of water resource management, water conveyance, and contaminant mitigation.
On day one, Fellows were led on a tour of the Cesar Chavez National Monument by Marc Grossman, a spokesperson for the Cesar Chavez Foundation who worked alongside Cesar Chavez. Grossman was responsible for the union’s press relations, helping Chavez with speeches, correspondence, public statements, and commentary. This was followed by an interview with Raul Barraza Jr., General Manager, Arvin Community Services District, on water conveyance systems. The day ended with a moment of unity by singing “De Colores.”
On day two, Fellows learned from Melissa Bergen, Community Development Specialist, Self‑Help Enterprises, about her organization, which works to provide technical assistance and community support when addressing water challenges. This was followed by an interview on the topic “Whose water Is It? People, Environment, and Agriculture” with Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Policy Coordinator – Water, Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability. The day ended with a tour of the Panorama Vista Preserve alongside Bring Back the Kern as the Fellows learned more about wildlife and river restoration efforts.
WELL UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2024 Hosts Sixth Session Virtually
On April 25, 2024, WELL hosted the sixth UnTapped Fellowship session—held virtually—for the class of 2024.
The fellows interviewed Clifford Chan, General Manager, East Bay Municipal Utility District. This session focused on teaching Fellows about water finance, a topic designed to help educate Fellows about how to fund equitable water solutions.
WELL UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2024 Hosts Seventh Session Virtually
On May 9, 2024, the current WELL UnTapped Fellowship cohort met for their final session before embarking on a trip to Sacramento. Joined by graduates of the UnTapped Fellowship Program (WELLos) they received mentorship about how to form planning committees and how to foster collaboration in order to conduct a successful water workshop as part of the UnTapped Fellowship capstone project.
WELL Graduates Seventh Cohort of UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2024 in Sacramento
WELL hosted the eighth, and final UnTapped Fellowship Session for the Class of 2024 in Sacramento., wherethe cohort gathered to meet with staff in their legislators’ offices in order to take the first steps in planning their legislative water workshops. WELL then hosted a graduation dinner. To celebrate the WELLos graduation, in attendance were Anecita Agustinez, Executive Manager, the Office of Tribal Affairs, The California Department of Water Resources, and WELL Advisory Council Member; Cindy Tuck, Deputy Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies; Darryl Lucien, Executive Director, California African American Water Education Foundation; Marc Grossman, Spokesperson, Cesar Chavez Foundation; and Victor Griego, President & Founder, WELL.
On Day Two, the WELLos took a tour of the Delta, with the first stop at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory to learn about conservation efforts for the Delta Smelt. The WELLos then visited the Big Break Regional Shoreline to learn more about the region and how water moves. The group then went to the Locke Historic District to hear the history of the role Chinese immigrants had in shaping the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The final stop was at the town of Hood, where they discussed the Delta Conveyance Project with a resident.
This session signifies the Fellowship’s end and the start of their efforts to bring clean and affordable drinking water to their communities. The cohort will now work with their planning committees over the next few months to host a legislative water workshop in their community. The 16 graduates are now part of the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN), bringing the total number of Fellowship graduates to 84, consisting of an array of California local elected officials, including mayors, city council members, and school and water board members.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Hosts Inspection Trip of Hoover Dam and Colorado River for WELL UnTapped Network (WUN)
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) sponsored an inspection trip of the Hoover Dam and Colorado River for the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN). Attendees from each cohort were present and they came from throughout the state, including Northern California, the Central Valley, Orange County, the Coachella Valley, and Los Angeles County.
The tour began at Hoover Dam with a tour of the facility conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation. Next, they listened to a presentation by Shanti Rosset on the Colorado River, the Colorado Compact, and current issues affecting the river. On Day Two, WUN received a tour of Copper Basin, the William P. Whitsett Pumping Plant, and Parker Dam. Day Three featured a presentation by Tina Shields, Water Department Manager, Imperial Irrigation District, on agricultural water usage in the Imperial Valley. The inspection trip allowed local elected leaders to gain a better understanding of California’s complex water challenges and possible solutions. Thank you to MWD for sponsoring this trip.
The WELL Untapped Network (WUN), is composed of 84 graduates of the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program. These are elected officials representing different regions and organizations. WUN creates opportunities for WELLos to continue to engage in training opportunities focused on California water policy. This extensive network allows members to make their communities more resilient in the face of ongoing water challenges.
Applications Now Open for WELL UnTapped Fellowship Winter Class of 2025
How is California’s water history impacting your community? Who is responsible for clean and affordable water in your region? What impacts do increasing water rates have on your local water infrastructure?
WELL is currently recruiting for our next cohort of the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program. UnTapped is a selective, six-month program for local elected leaders that helps participants make an impact on California water policy while addressing individual community water challenges.
UnTapped sessions consist of five in-person meetings at various watersheds throughout California and four online sessions. Content includes a discussion with water professionals and skill-based exercises that help participants ask better public policy questions and strengthen public speaking and relational skills.
Once UnTapped fellows graduate from the program, they are inducted into the WELL UnTapped Network (WUN), where they can continue to engage in learning and training opportunities focused on California water policy. Having such an extensive network means that together we can make our communities more resilient in the face of ongoing water challenges.
The cost to participate in the UnTapped Fellowship Program is $3,000 for city council members, county supervisors, and school board members, and $4,000 for water district directors.
WELL UnTapped Fellowship 2025 Session Dates:
- Session 1: Coachella, Friday, January 10 – Sunday, January 12, 2025
- Session 2: San Diego, Friday, February 7 – Saturday, February 8, 2025
- Session 3: Tehachapi, Friday, March 21 – Saturday, March 22, 2025
- Session 4: Richmond, Friday, April 4 – Saturday, April 5, 2025
- Session 5: Sacramento, Tuesday, May 6 – Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Click here to apply.
Register now for UnTapped Legislative Water Workshops
Five Southern California Communities Complete Growing Water Smart in Redlands
Early in June in Redlands, in partnership with the Sonoran Institute, WELL hosted the second California Growing Water Smart (GWS) workshop. This initiative introduces cities to a full range of tools for communications, public engagement, planning, and policy implementation to help them discover the status of their watershed health and set community resiliency goals. California communities can best learn to integrate land use and water planning through collaborative efforts.
This WELL/Sonoran Institute partnership brings together the expertise and resources of two leading organizations as experts in water conservation and education. The aim is to aid participating California city leaders in creating a comprehensive water management program that will address water resource challenges in their municipalities. The program provides insight into critical gaps in planning efforts as participants assess community data, trends, and existing policies that will aid in identifying strategies for becoming water resilient. This will then lead to the development of a common set of data and growth projections that local governments and service providers can use to inform planning efforts.
Through this collaboration, the Sonoran Institute and WELL were able to provide a cost-free workshop to participating city teams from Colton, San Bernardino, Redlands, Rialto, and Pico Rivera. Additionally, three WELLos participated as facilitators: Gene Hernandez, Former Mayor, City of Yorba Linda, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2018; Igor Tregub, Councilmember, City of Berkeley, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2020; Alvaro Preciado, Mayor, City of Avenal, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2019.
WELL would like to express special thanks to the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District for its support of this workshop. To learn more about the Growing Water Smart Workshops click here.
WELL Hosts Panel at Perez-Silverman Symposium on Water and Food Security in Los Angeles
The Pérez-Silverman Symposium on Water and Food Security in Los Angeles was hosted at Cal State LA on April 24. The symposium consisted of three panels: Water Resources and Security, WELL Leaders Combat Local Water Issues, and Urban Agriculture and Food Security in Los Angeles.
The WELL Panel featured five graduates of the WELL UnTapped Fellowship Program. Councilmember Rafael Trujillo, City of Rialto, and WELL UnTapped Graduated Class of 2023 Moderated the panel. First, Councilmember Salvador Melendez, City of Montebello, and WELL UnTapped Graduate Class of 2020, spoke about the water challenges in his city and having to lease the water rights to update their water system without putting the additional costs on the residents. Next, Councilmember, Gustavo Camacho, City of Pico Rivera, and WELL UnTapped Graduate Class of 2019, spoke about the PFAs and PFOs found in their water system and the collaborations for funding sources to keep costs to a minimum and without passing costs onto residents.
Director Danielle Soto, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and WELL UnTapped Graduate Class of 2022, spoke about the long lawsuit between the City of Pomona and contaminators in the area. Finally, Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, City of San Fernando, and WELL UnTapped Fellow, Class of 2024, discussed the high levels of nitrates in her city, the lack of funding available to provide immediate relief to the system, and the high cost of importing water from The Metropolitan Water District.
The panel highlighted the leadership efforts of the WELL UnTapped Graduates in addressing their communities’ water challenges.
WELL Boardmember Joone Kim Lopez Hosts Water Infrastructure Networking Summit Alongside California State Senator Alex Padilla
This year’s Water Infrastructure Networking Summit (WINS2024) was led by keynote speaker and United States Senator, the Honorable Alex Padilla. Discussions at WINS2024 centered on “The New Politics of Water” while connecting representatives from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Uniting these key decision-makers is a catalyst for driving discussion and paving the way for a more sustainable future for California water. Inviting this kind of collaboration helps utilities and legislators to overcome the challenges of funding critical enhancements to water and wastewater infrastructure.
WELLos Spotlight:
Jim Crawford, Board Member, West Basin Municipal Water District, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2022: Mr. Crawford was recently sworn in as a board member for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a regional wholesaler and the largest supplier of treated water in the United States.
Igor Tregub, Councilmember, City of Berkeley, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2020: Mr. Tregub was recently sworn in as a Councilmember for the City of Berkeley, California. Mr. Tregub previously served as Commissioner on the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board.
Alma Hernandez, Mayor, City of Suisun, and WELL UnTapped Fellowship Graduate, Class of 2024: Mayor Hernandez recently participated in the workshop Sustainable Solano alongside the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Greenbelt Association. The workshop focused on wetland restoration, ecotone levels, and grey-green infrastructure, specifically to address mitigation efforts.
WELL Welcomes New Staff Member and New Program Manager
This month WELL welcomed Giselle Gándara as our new Civic and Political Engagement Manager for Southern California. Additionally, Marissa Stanley has been appointed as WELL’s new Program Manager. The current Program Manager, Stephanie Nava-Angeles will be leaving to attend graduate school at UC Davis this fall, and all further communications will be coming from Marissa.
Giselle Gándara is a passionate advocate for sustainability, environmental justice, and environmental education. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she has a drive to use her passions to support low-income communities like the one she grew up in.
Ms. Gándara previously worked with the Peace Corps in Panama as a Sustainable Agriculture Extension Promoter, She helped mobilize community members to facilitate workshops for rural farmers and worked to build strategic partnerships with local farming associations and NGOs to enhance farming techniques and promote carbon-sequestering practices.
Before her international service, Ms. Gándara was a teacher at Aventuras Forest School in Hollywood. As a California Naturalist, she eagerly carried out a nature-centered curriculum entirely in Spanish, which helped promote deep environmental connections and bilingualism among preschool-aged children.
Ms. Gándara brings to her new role as WELL’s new Civic and Political Engagement Manager passion for community advocacy and enabling leaders to take action to address California’s water inequities.
Ms. Gándara received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Merced.
Partners Spotlight:
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD): WRD has been awarded $25 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for their Brackish Groundwater Cleanup Project. WRD is turning a challenge into an opportunity by remediating brackish groundwater in the South Bay in order to establish a new source of sustainable drinking water and to provide additional storage for freshwater resources. Funding will be used to double the capacity of WRD’s Torrance Groundwater Desalter facility with the aim of producing up to 10 million gallons per day of drinking water for the region. Click here to read the full press release.
Western Municipal Water District (Western Water): Western Water recently celebrated the artistic talents of six students from Riverside County schools at a special event dedicated to honoring their award-winning artwork. In addition, Western Water awarded more than $15,000 to 21 teachers through its Lois B. Krieger Water Project Grants for Educators (Krieger Grant) program. Click here to read the full press release.
Santa Clara Valley Water (Valley Water): Through the provisions of AB 939, Smart Financing for Valley Water Infrastructure, authored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), Valley Water secured the ability to issue revenue bonds. The Valley Water Board of Directors recently authorized up to $450 million in revenue bonds to fund water utility capital projects. This effort will lead to debt service savings for ratepayers in the millions, which will assist Valley Water in keeping water rates low for the community. Click here to read the full press report.
California Water News—June
Worried you may have missed some important recent water news? WELL has you covered! Here is a sample of noteworthy water news during June:
- Water World: Senate Bill 366 advances through assembly committee unanimously
- Cal Matters: Drinking water of almost a million Californians failed to meet state requirements
- California Department of Water Resources: California and Tribal Partners Secure Critical Water Supply to Support Native American Farmers
- Cal Matters: California now has mandatory water conservation in urban areas: How will the new rules affect your supplier?
- California Department of Water Resources: State Releases California Water Plan Update 2023: A Roadmap to Water Management and Infrastructure for a Water Resilient Future
WELL Associate Members
The WELL Associate Member program, established in 2020, helps organizations gain access to Latino leaders who share similar interests, allowing members to strategize about the best ways to solve California’s water problems. The participation of our Associate Members is a key component of our mutual continuing success. We thank our Associate Members, listed below, for their support. If you would like to learn more about the Associate Member Program, please visit latinosforwater.org/associatemembers.
