Mojave Water Agency to host “California WaterFix: It Will Take More Than Duct Tape” presentation

Droughts, floods, atmospheric rivers, spillways, water conservation and the California WaterFix are all in the news these days but how much of it all do you understand? California’s water and its water history are complicated topics.

Mojave Water Agency’s (MWA) new General Manager, Tom McCarthy, will be presenting the ABC’s of Water, “California WaterFix: It Will Take More Than Duct Tape” on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. More than 50 years ago, the State Water Project was begun to move water from Northern to Southern California via a series of dames, canals, pipelines and tunnel. But the system is aged and in need of overhaul. The proposed California WaterFix is Governor Jerry Brown’s answer for upgrades in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to secure California’s water supplies now and for the foreseeable future and to improve the Delta’s ecosystem.

Mojave Water Agency is a State Water Contractor and is thereby entitled to participate and/or purchase water as a member of the State Water Project. The forthcoming decisions regarding the California WaterFix could impact water in the Mojave Desert. McCarthy’s presentation will explain the improvements planned through the California WaterFix including the innovative infrastructure as well as the proposed costs and benefits.

McCarthy joined MWA in mid-May. He is a professional civil engineer and geologist. Prior to joining MWA, McCarthy served as the Acting Engineering Manager/Chief Engineer and Water Resources Planning Manager for Anaheim Public Utilities. He also served in the private sector with MWH Global Inc. where he served as the Project Technical Lead for all water resource projects based in the Southwest, and led multi-disciplinary teams from around the world. McCarthy holds a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Science from the University of Oregon.

The presentation will be held at MWA’s offices at 13846 Conference Center Drive in Apple Valley. Because seating is limited reservations are needed to attend the presentation; the deadline to register is Monday, Sept. 25. To register email Gloria Golike at: ggolike @mojavewater.org or call her at 760-946-7001. Refreshments will be served.