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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 03 - Fall 2019T H E O TA Y W A TER DISTRICT • P R OUDL Y SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B AY SINC E 1956 A NE W SLE T TER FOR CUSTOM E RS OF THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT FALL 2019 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. PresidentMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov TreasurerHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov Board MemberTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Dedicated to Community Service FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2018 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Students Use Art to Illustrate Why ‘Water is Life’ A total of 245 students participated in the Otay Water District’s 2019 “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest, and six were chosen as the winners. Otay selected the students’ artwork based on originality and for best reflecting the theme of water conservation and stewardship. Otay’s Board recognized the winners, who all happened to be from the Chula Vista Elementary School District, at its August Board meeting. In spring 2019, the District invited schools in its service area to participate in the contest as an opportunity for students to express creativity, creating masterpieces that could also bring awareness of the importance of water-use efficiency to students and the public. The contest is one of the District’s various educational programs intended to encourage students to use daily water-saving practices and teach them how vital water is to the region. “Using water wisely is important because if we don’t use it wisely then we will have no more water,” said first place winner Maya Santana. “And if we don’t have any more water, then no living creature will be able to live, including us.” All posters were judged based on categories grouped by grades: Kindergarten-3rd and 4th- 6th. First, second, and third prize winners were chosen from each category to be awarded with a certificate of recognition, gift card, art kit, and District-promotional items. The first-place winners from each category also received a pizza party for their entire class. Based on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 2020 Student Art Calendar Contest rules, each of the 29 participating member and retails agencies could submit no more than five posters to MWD’s contest. Otay entered five of its six winning posters to the art calendar contest and as a result, MWD selected Santana’s poster as one of 36 posters from its overall regional entries to be displayed in its 2020 “Water is Life” calendar. Santana is also Otay’s 2019 first place winner in the 4th-6th grade category. MWD’s 36 winners, including Santana, will be honored at a student art exhibit and recognition event on Dec. 11. “My favorite part about the contest was doing my art project because I love to do art and it is my favorite subject,” said Santana. To learn more about the “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest, visit otaywater.gov/ education. For more on Santana’s poster, see page 2. Estudiantes utilizan el arte para enseñar que ‘El agua es vida’ Un total de 245 estudiantes participaron en el Concurso de Posters Estudiantiles Water is Life o “El agua es vida” del Distrito de Agua de Otay. Seis estudiantes ganaron el concurso. Otay seleccionó a los trabajos ganadores por su originalidad y la forma en que reflejan el tema de la conservación y el cuidado del agua. La Junta Directiva del Distrito de Agua de Otay reconoció a los ganadores, quienes son estudiantes del Distrito de Escuelas Primarias de Chula Vista, durante su junta del mes de agosto. En la primavera de 2019, el Distrito invitó a las escuelas, que se encuentran en su área de servicio, a participar en el concurso para que los estudiantes expresaran su creatividad, crearan obras maestras, y concientizaran al público y a los estudiantes sobre la importancia del uso eficiente del agua. Este concurso es uno de los programas educativos del Distrito creados para alentar a los estudiantes a utilizar prácticas de ahorro de agua diariamente y, al mismo tiempo, les enseña cuán vital es el agua en la región. “Usar el agua con prudencia es importante ya que si no lo usamos sabiamente no tendremos más agua”, mencionó Maya Santana, ganadora del primer lugar. “Si no tenemos más agua ningún ser vivo podrá sobrevivir, incluyéndonos a nosotros”. El concurso constó de dos categorías: kínder a 3.er grado y 4.º a 6.º grado. El primer, segundo y tercer lugar de cada categoría recibió un certificado de reconocimiento, una tarjeta de regalo, un kit de arte y artículos promocionales del Distrito. Los dos ganadores del primer lugar en cada categoría también recibieron una fiesta con pizza para toda su clase. De acuerdo con las reglas del Concurso del Calendario de Arte Estudiantil 2020 del Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California (MWD, por sus siglas en inglés), cada una de sus 29 agencias de agua participantes no puede presentar más de cinco posters al concurso del MWD. Otay presentó cinco de sus seis posters ganadores en el concurso del calendario de arte. Como resultado, el poster de Maya Santana fue seleccionado como parte de los 36 posters que se escogieron entre todas las obras de arte sometidas a nivel regional para ser exhibido en el calendario 2020 del MWD “El agua es vida”. Santana es la ganadora del primer lugar de Otay en 2019 en la categoría de 4º a 6º grado. Los 36 ganadores de MWD, incluida Santana, serán reconocidos en una exhibición de arte estudiantil y un evento especial el 11 de diciembre. “Mi parte favorita del concurso fue hacer mi proyecto artístico porque me encanta el arte y es mi materia favorita”, mencionó Santana. Para aprender más acerca del Concurso de Posters Estudiantiles “El agua es vida”, por favor visite otaywater.gov/education. Para más información sobre el póster de Santana, visite la página 2. Left to right: Smith, Santana, Williams, Diana Sanchez (teacher at Camarena Elementary), Mendoza, Constantino, Joanne Adamos (teacher at Wolf Canyon Elementary), Gonzalez Contest winners include the following: K-3rd Grade:Jeeanna Mendoza, Grade 3, Camarena Elementary (1st Place)Amerie Constantino, Grade 1, Wolf Canyon Elementary (2nd Place)Miguel-Angel Gonzalez, Grade 2, Wolf Canyon Elementary (3rd Place) 4th-6th Grade:Maya Santana, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (1st Place)Malayiah Williams, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (2nd Place) Rin Smith, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (3rd Place) Desde la izquierda: Smith, Santana, Williams, Diana Sanchez (maestra de Camarena Elementary), Mendoza, Constantino, Joanne Adamos (maestra de Wolf Canyon Elementary), Gonzalez Los ganadores del concurso son: Kínder a 3.er grado:Jeeanna Mendoza, Grade 3, Camarena Elementary (primer lugar)Amerie Constantino, Grade 1, Wolf Canyon Elementary (segundo lugar)Miguel-Angel Gonzalez, Grade 2, Wolf Canyon Elementary (tercer lugar) 4.º a 6.º grado:Maya Santana, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (primer lugar)Malayiah Williams, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (segundo lugar)Rin Smith, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (tercer lugar) Firescaping: Create a Fire-Resistant Landscape Firescaping, or creating fire-safe zones when landscaping is a great way to help protect your property against wildfire, which tends to be a greater threat during the late summer and fall months. When firescaping, keep in mind: there should be less vegetation close to your home. Simple fire prevention measures include: • Keep 100 feet of defensible space around structures. • Use wide-brick or paver pathways to divide your landscape. • Plant shrub groupings at least 18 feet from one another. • Trim the lower limbs of trees to at least 15 feet off the ground. • Thin the crowns of trees to separate them by at least 10 feet. • Prune dead leaves, branches, and pinecones. • Avoid high-resin or low-moisture plants. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours, is the author of several books, and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV, www.waterwisegardener.com Our region’s precious trees are still under attack, threatened by various “bad guys.” Here’s an update from last year’s report from the summer 2018 issue of the District’s Pipeline newsletter. Shot Hole Borer Beetle Oaks, willows, palo verde, and California sycamore are just a few of the trees susceptible to infestation by shot hole borer beetles, which continue to spread across the region, according to Beatriz Nobua–Behrmann, urban forestry advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension. Each beetle bores a tiny hole into a tree’s bark and inserts a bit of fungus. The beetle eats the fungus, not the tree. A tree might tolerate a small number of beetles, but as the population grows, all those holes eventually kill the tree. By the time you notice that a tree is dying, it could be home to thousands of beetles. Once it dies, each of those beetles (and their offspring) spread out to find new trees to infest. The best defense for these beetles is a good offense. Check your trees for tiny holes in the bark, stained bark, gum on the bark, and so on. Mild infestations, Nobua-Behrmann says, can be treated with sprays or tree injections. Since shot hole borers can find their way into your garden in firewood and in freshly chipped wood mulch, it is recommended that all firewood be kiln dried or properly solarized before you bring it onto your property. Only accept woodchips that are smaller than one inch across. For more information, visit ucanr.edu/sites/pshb. South American Palm Weevil Have you ever seen a Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis) whose fronds flop backwards? Collapsed fronds are a sure sign of the deadly South American palm weevil. Other signs are yellowing fronds, holes, tunnels, and frass at the base of fronds. Once infected, a palm becomes a weevil breeding ground. The black, inch and a half long weevils can fly up to 15 miles in a day. They can also travel from palm to palm on poorly cleaned pruning shears, saws, and other tools. As soon as you see the oddly floppy fronds, hire a certified arborist to cut down the infested palms, and ensure they disinfect their tools as they work. Please don’t move live palms out of infested areas — weevils can move with them. If you suspect that they are in your area, you can trap them using a pheromone-baited bucket trap. For instructions, visit cisr.ucr.edu/pdf/ palm-weevil-bucket-trap.pdf. To learn more about this pest and report collapsing palms, visit cisr.ucr.edu/palmarum.html. Citrus Green Disease (HLB) Experts say it is just a matter of time until deadly citrus greening disease (HLB) reaches San Diego County. It is already infecting orange, lemon, and other citrus trees in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. The USDA describes it as “one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world.” Citrus greening is caused by a bacterium that is carried from tree to tree by the tiny Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). HLB bacteria interferes with the tree’s ability to move nutrients. Leaves on infected plants develop irregular yellow splotches or mottling. Fruits stay small, grow lopsided, and taste bitter. Some fruits remain partially green even when ripe. There is no cure. ACP is in our region, but so far, none of the local psyllids are infected with the deadly HLB bacteria, thanks to an aggressive program by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for releasing tiny parasitic wasps that kill Asian citrus psyllids. In addition, there is an HLB quarantine that prohibits the movement of citrus fruits, leaves, and trees out of regions of Orange and LA counties. Please, do your part to keep citrus greening from coming into San Diego County by following the quarantine guidelines posted at cdfa.ca.gov/plant/hlb/regulation.html. If you see or suspect that a tree has HLB, report it at californiacitrusthreat.org. Nan StermanWaterwiseGardener Register for classes or events at thegarden.org or call (619) 660-0614x10 Annual Fall Plant Sale Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join the Garden and visit craft vendors and water agency booths, purchase plants for sale, attend workshops, receive a landscape consultation (reservations recommended), and more. Also, rain barrels from the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation will be available for pick it up at the event if ordered by Nov. 4. Adults and kids 12 and over: $5; kids 3-11: $3; members and kids 2 and under: FREE UPCOMING EVENTS Tree Threats Update ‘Tis the Season to Make Every Drop Count! Water Saving Tips for the Holidays RINSE AND REUSE. Use a large bowl of water to rinse vegetables rather than letting the tap run. Use the leftover water to irrigate your plants. PLAN AHEAD. Give your turkey time to thaw by placing it in the refrigerator before cooking it. Avoid defrosting it under cold running water. SET THE TABLE. Place a pitcher of cold water on the table for each person to take what they need, instead of filling each glass. Use the leftover water from their glasses on your plants. INSPECT FOR LEAKS. During the holidays, you may experience higher usage of your bathrooms, and thus more prone to issues. Inspect your bathroom fixtures for malfunctions or leaks. DON’T RINSE, SCRAPE. If there are leftover scraps on your dinner guests’ plates, scrape off the scraps into a waste container to avoid rinsing the plates. FOG – Store It, Don’t Pour It! Fall symbolizes holiday season, which means more cooking than usual. During the holidays and every day, keep fats, oils, and grease (FOG) out of your home’s drains. They are a harmful threat to the sewer pipes and can cause backups into your home or yard. To properly dispose of FOG, pour the liquid (after it cools) into an empty container and store it in the refrigerator. Once you have filled up the container, discard it in your garbage or take it to a local recycling center. Find a center near you at ecodisposal.com. To learn more about FOG and how to dispose of it, especially after cooking a holiday meal, visit youtube.com/otaywaterdistrict. Free Docent-Led ToursFirst Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Landscape Design ConsultationsSecond Saturday of the month The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations (first come, first served) for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Members: $65; nonmembers: $80 Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become an Earth Hero! Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or school assembly, call (619) 660-0615 x16. ONGOING EVENTS Visit thegarden.org for details. Trees spaced to reduce fire spread Lower tree limbs removed to reduce "fire ladder" 30’ Trees trimmedat least 10’from chimney 70’ (or to property line) Space plants and shrubsto prevent fire from spreading For more firescaping tips, visit otaywater.gov/firescaping. FREE WaterSmart Checkups Available! Free No obligation Prepare for Seasonal Irrigation Changes Site-Specific Recommendations Increase Water-Use Efficiency Control Expense To find out if you’re eligible and for more details, visit otaywater.gov/freecheckup. Continued from page 1. Selected poster for Metropolitan Water District’s 2020 “Water is Life” Calendar Maya Santana “I am glad that there are people that are trying to conserve water so that our world can last longer.” – Maya Santana Firescaping: Create a Fire-Resistant Landscape Firescaping, or creating fire-safe zones when landscaping is a great way to help protect your property against wildfire, which tends to be a greater threat during the late summer and fall months. When firescaping, keep in mind: there should be less vegetation close to your home. Simple fire prevention measures include: • Keep 100 feet of defensible space around structures. • Use wide-brick or paver pathways to divide your landscape. • Plant shrub groupings at least 18 feet from one another. • Trim the lower limbs of trees to at least 15 feet off the ground. • Thin the crowns of trees to separate them by at least 10 feet. • Prune dead leaves, branches, and pinecones. • Avoid high-resin or low-moisture plants. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours, is the author of several books, and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV, www.waterwisegardener.com Our region’s precious trees are still under attack, threatened by various “bad guys.” Here’s an update from last year’s report from the summer 2018 issue of the District’s Pipeline newsletter. Shot Hole Borer Beetle Oaks, willows, palo verde, and California sycamore are just a few of the trees susceptible to infestation by shot hole borer beetles, which continue to spread across the region, according to Beatriz Nobua–Behrmann, urban forestry advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension. Each beetle bores a tiny hole into a tree’s bark and inserts a bit of fungus. The beetle eats the fungus, not the tree. A tree might tolerate a small number of beetles, but as the population grows, all those holes eventually kill the tree. By the time you notice that a tree is dying, it could be home to thousands of beetles. Once it dies, each of those beetles (and their offspring) spread out to find new trees to infest. The best defense for these beetles is a good offense. Check your trees for tiny holes in the bark, stained bark, gum on the bark, and so on. Mild infestations, Nobua-Behrmann says, can be treated with sprays or tree injections. Since shot hole borers can find their way into your garden in firewood and in freshly chipped wood mulch, it is recommended that all firewood be kiln dried or properly solarized before you bring it onto your property. Only accept woodchips that are smaller than one inch across. For more information, visit ucanr.edu/sites/pshb. South American Palm Weevil Have you ever seen a Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis) whose fronds flop backwards? Collapsed fronds are a sure sign of the deadly South American palm weevil. Other signs are yellowing fronds, holes, tunnels, and frass at the base of fronds. Once infected, a palm becomes a weevil breeding ground. The black, inch and a half long weevils can fly up to 15 miles in a day. They can also travel from palm to palm on poorly cleaned pruning shears, saws, and other tools. As soon as you see the oddly floppy fronds, hire a certified arborist to cut down the infested palms, and ensure they disinfect their tools as they work. Please don’t move live palms out of infested areas — weevils can move with them. If you suspect that they are in your area, you can trap them using a pheromone-baited bucket trap. For instructions, visit cisr.ucr.edu/pdf/ palm-weevil-bucket-trap.pdf. To learn more about this pest and report collapsing palms, visit cisr.ucr.edu/palmarum.html. Citrus Green Disease (HLB) Experts say it is just a matter of time until deadly citrus greening disease (HLB) reaches San Diego County. It is already infecting orange, lemon, and other citrus trees in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. The USDA describes it as “one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world.” Citrus greening is caused by a bacterium that is carried from tree to tree by the tiny Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). HLB bacteria interferes with the tree’s ability to move nutrients. Leaves on infected plants develop irregular yellow splotches or mottling. Fruits stay small, grow lopsided, and taste bitter. Some fruits remain partially green even when ripe. There is no cure. ACP is in our region, but so far, none of the local psyllids are infected with the deadly HLB bacteria, thanks to an aggressive program by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for releasing tiny parasitic wasps that kill Asian citrus psyllids. In addition, there is an HLB quarantine that prohibits the movement of citrus fruits, leaves, and trees out of regions of Orange and LA counties. Please, do your part to keep citrus greening from coming into San Diego County by following the quarantine guidelines posted at cdfa.ca.gov/plant/hlb/regulation.html. If you see or suspect that a tree has HLB, report it at californiacitrusthreat.org. Nan StermanWaterwise Gardener Register for classes or events at thegarden.org or call (619) 660-0614x10 Annual Fall Plant Sale Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join the Garden and visit craft vendors and water agency booths, purchase plants for sale, attend workshops, receive a landscape consultation (reservations recommended), and more. Also, rain barrels from the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation will be available for pick it up at the event if ordered by Nov. 4. Adults and kids 12 and over: $5; kids 3-11: $3; members and kids 2 and under: FREE UPCOMING EVENTS Tree Threats Update ‘Tis the Season to Make Every Drop Count! Water Saving Tips for the HolidaysRINSE AND REUSE. Use a large bowl of water to rinse vegetables rather than letting the tap run. Use the leftover water to irrigate your plants. PLAN AHEAD. Give your turkey time to thaw by placing it in the refrigerator before cooking it. Avoid defrosting it under cold running water. SET THE TABLE. Place a pitcher of cold water on the table for each person to take what they need, instead of filling each glass. Use the leftover water from their glasses on your plants. INSPECT FOR LEAKS. During the holidays, you may experience higher usage of your bathrooms, and thus more prone to issues. Inspect your bathroom fixtures for malfunctions or leaks. DON’T RINSE, SCRAPE. If there are leftover scraps on your dinner guests’ plates, scrape off the scraps into a waste container to avoid rinsing the plates. FOG – Store It, Don’t Pour It! Fall symbolizes holiday season, which means more cooking than usual. During the holidays and every day, keep fats, oils, and grease (FOG) out of your home’s drains. They are a harmful threat to the sewer pipes and can cause backups into your home or yard. To properly dispose of FOG, pour the liquid (after it cools) into an empty container and store it in the refrigerator. Once you have filled up the container, discard it in your garbage or take it to a local recycling center. Find a center near you at ecodisposal.com. To learn more about FOG and how to dispose of it, especially after cooking a holiday meal, visit youtube.com/otaywaterdistrict. Free Docent-Led ToursFirst Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Landscape Design ConsultationsSecond Saturday of the month The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations (first come, first served) for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Members: $65; nonmembers: $80 Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become an Earth Hero! Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or school assembly, call (619) 660-0615 x16. ONGOING EVENTS Visit thegarden.org for details. Trees spaced to reduce fire spread Lower tree limbs removed to reduce "fire ladder" 30’ Trees trimmedat least 10’from chimney 70’ (or to property line) Space plants and shrubsto prevent fire from spreading For more firescaping tips, visit otaywater.gov/firescaping. FREE WaterSmart Checkups Available! Free No obligation Prepare for Seasonal Irrigation Changes Site-Specific Recommendations Increase Water-Use Efficiency Control Expense To find out if you’re eligible and for more details, visit otaywater.gov/freecheckup. Continued from page 1. Selected poster for Metropolitan Water District’s 2020 “Water is Life” Calendar Maya Santana “I am glad that there are people that are trying to conserve water so that our world can last longer.” – Maya Santana T H E O T A Y W ATER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B A Y SINC E 1956 A NEWSLET T E R FOR CUSTO MER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT FALL 2019 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. PresidentMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov TreasurerHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov Board MemberTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Dedicated to Community Service FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2018 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Students Use Art to Illustrate Why ‘Water is Life’ A total of 245 students participated in the Otay Water District’s 2019 “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest, and six were chosen as the winners. Otay selected the students’ artwork based on originality and for best reflecting the theme of water conservation and stewardship. Otay’s Board recognized the winners, who all happened to be from the Chula Vista Elementary School District, at its August Board meeting. In spring 2019, the District invited schools in its service area to participate in the contest as an opportunity for students to express creativity, creating masterpieces that could also bring awareness of the importance of water-use efficiency to students and the public. The contest is one of the District’s various educational programs intended to encourage students to use daily water-saving practices and teach them how vital water is to the region. “Using water wisely is important because if we don’t use it wisely then we will have no more water,” said first place winner Maya Santana. “And if we don’t have any more water, then no living creature will be able to live, including us.” All posters were judged based on categories grouped by grades: Kindergarten-3rd and 4th- 6th. First, second, and third prize winners were chosen from each category to be awarded with a certificate of recognition, gift card, art kit, and District-promotional items. The first-place winners from each category also received a pizza party for their entire class. Based on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 2020 Student Art Calendar Contest rules, each of the 29 participating member and retails agencies could submit no more than five posters to MWD’s contest. Otay entered five of its six winning posters to the art calendar contest and as a result, MWD selected Santana’s poster as one of 36 posters from its overall regional entries to be displayed in its 2020 “Water is Life” calendar. Santana is also Otay’s 2019 first place winner in the 4th-6th grade category. MWD’s 36 winners, including Santana, will be honored at a student art exhibit and recognition event on Dec. 11. “My favorite part about the contest was doing my art project because I love to do art and it is my favorite subject,” said Santana. To learn more about the “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest, visit otaywater.gov/ education. For more on Santana’s poster, see page 2. Estudiantes utilizan el arte para enseñar que ‘El agua es vida’ Un total de 245 estudiantes participaron en el Concurso de Posters Estudiantiles Water is Life o “El agua es vida” del Distrito de Agua de Otay. Seis estudiantes ganaron el concurso. Otay seleccionó a los trabajos ganadores por su originalidad y la forma en que reflejan el tema de la conservación y el cuidado del agua. La Junta Directiva del Distrito de Agua de Otay reconoció a los ganadores, quienes son estudiantes del Distrito de Escuelas Primarias de Chula Vista, durante su junta del mes de agosto. En la primavera de 2019, el Distrito invitó a las escuelas, que se encuentran en su área de servicio, a participar en el concurso para que los estudiantes expresaran su creatividad, crearan obras maestras, y concientizaran al público y a los estudiantes sobre la importancia del uso eficiente del agua. Este concurso es uno de los programas educativos del Distrito creados para alentar a los estudiantes a utilizar prácticas de ahorro de agua diariamente y, al mismo tiempo, les enseña cuán vital es el agua en la región. “Usar el agua con prudencia es importante ya que si no lo usamos sabiamente no tendremos más agua”, mencionó Maya Santana, ganadora del primer lugar. “Si no tenemos más agua ningún ser vivo podrá sobrevivir, incluyéndonos a nosotros”. El concurso constó de dos categorías: kínder a 3.er grado y 4.º a 6.º grado. El primer, segundo y tercer lugar de cada categoría recibió un certificado de reconocimiento, una tarjeta de regalo, un kit de arte y artículos promocionales del Distrito. Los dos ganadores del primer lugar en cada categoría también recibieron una fiesta con pizza para toda su clase. De acuerdo con las reglas del Concurso del Calendario de Arte Estudiantil 2020 del Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California (MWD, por sus siglas en inglés), cada una de sus 29 agencias de agua participantes no puede presentar más de cinco posters al concurso del MWD. Otay presentó cinco de sus seis posters ganadores en el concurso del calendario de arte. Como resultado, el poster de Maya Santana fue seleccionado como parte de los 36 posters que se escogieron entre todas las obras de arte sometidas a nivel regional para ser exhibido en el calendario 2020 del MWD “El agua es vida”. Santana es la ganadora del primer lugar de Otay en 2019 en la categoría de 4º a 6º grado. Los 36 ganadores de MWD, incluida Santana, serán reconocidos en una exhibición de arte estudiantil y un evento especial el 11 de diciembre. “Mi parte favorita del concurso fue hacer mi proyecto artístico porque me encanta el arte y es mi materia favorita”, mencionó Santana. Para aprender más acerca del Concurso de Posters Estudiantiles “El agua es vida”, por favor visite otaywater.gov/education. Para más información sobre el póster de Santana, visite la página 2. Left to right: Smith, Santana, Williams, Diana Sanchez (teacher at Camarena Elementary), Mendoza, Constantino, Joanne Adamos (teacher at Wolf Canyon Elementary), Gonzalez Contest winners include the following: K-3rd Grade:Jeeanna Mendoza, Grade 3, Camarena Elementary (1st Place)Amerie Constantino, Grade 1, Wolf Canyon Elementary (2nd Place)Miguel-Angel Gonzalez, Grade 2, Wolf Canyon Elementary (3rd Place) 4th-6th Grade:Maya Santana, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (1st Place)Malayiah Williams, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (2nd Place) Rin Smith, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (3rd Place) Desde la izquierda: Smith, Santana, Williams, Diana Sanchez (maestra de Camarena Elementary), Mendoza, Constantino, Joanne Adamos (maestra de Wolf Canyon Elementary), Gonzalez Los ganadores del concurso son: Kínder a 3.er grado:Jeeanna Mendoza, Grade 3, Camarena Elementary (primer lugar)Amerie Constantino, Grade 1, Wolf Canyon Elementary (segundo lugar)Miguel-Angel Gonzalez, Grade 2, Wolf Canyon Elementary (tercer lugar) 4.º a 6.º grado:Maya Santana, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (primer lugar)Malayiah Williams, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (segundo lugar)Rin Smith, Grade 5, Wolf Canyon Elementary (tercer lugar)