San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District

07/23/2026

We are happy to share a job posting from one of our awesome partners, the Chino Basin Water Conservation District. They are currently seeking to fill the position of a Conservation Specialist I/II.

=> Recruitment will be used to fill one (1) position at level I or II, depending on the qualification and experience of the selected candidate.
=> This recruitment is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Final review of applications will be on August 10, 2026, It is recommended that interested candidates apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time.
=> For more information and to apply, visit cbwcd.org/jobs.

07/14/2026

🔹 Two Woodland Skippers on a Thistle 🔹

A variety of butterflies make their home in the San Bernardino Mountains, headwaters of the Santa Ana River, including the woodland skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides). This butterfly is commonly found in grassy mountain habitats associated with chaparral, sagebrush, woodlands, and stream corridors. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Santa Ana River starts at the confluence of Heart Bar Creek and C**n Creek at an elevation of 6,991 feet. From there, the river flows westward, joined by Bear Creek before passing through Seven Oaks Dam and winding through the San Bernardino Valley - including District Lands - on its journey through Riverside and Orange Counties to the Pacific Ocean.
Photo credit: Tania C. Parra, U.S. Forest Service

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Ochlodes-sylvanoides

07/08/2026

🔹 2026 California Water - Inland Empire Edition 🔹

The District is featured in "California Water’s Inland Empire" 2026 edition, published in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Riverside Press-Enterprise, San Bernardino Sun, and Redlands Daily Facts. Titled “The Science of Stewardship,” the article highlights the District’s accomplishments through careful monitoring of groundwater levels, seasonal recharge, basin conditions, and water quality.

On page 23, General Manager Betsy Miller Vixie reflects on the District’s collaborative approach and more than a century of working in harmony with the San Bernardino Valley’s natural geology: “Together, we are inspiring the next generation of conservation-minded leaders and stewards committed to local groundwater management.”

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/770699366/

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06/30/2026

🔹 FREE Sustainable QWEL Landscaper Workshop 🔹

Join us for a FREE, 4-session QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper) certification training! Registration Closes 07/23/2026 or until workshop fills up.

This QWEL training will be taught in English and facilitated in-person by one of our highly rated QWEL certified instructors and is available to professionals conducting work in the San Bernardino County service area.

WHEN
* Thursday, July 23, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
* Tuesday, August 11, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
* Thursday, September 24, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
* Tuesday, October 20, 9:00 am-4:00 pm

WHERE
Sterling Natural Resource Center
25318 5th Street
San Bernardino, CA 92410

PRESENTER: Michael Utterback, QWEL
SPONSOR: San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District

ABOUT
The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper training (QWEL) is an EPA WaterSense-labeled Professional Certification Program for irrigation system audits. It presents an affordable, proactive, local approach to reducing landscape water demand. QWEL provides graduates with knowledge in water efficient and sustainable landscape practices, including water management and preservation of other valuable resources.

The in-person classes will cover all sections of the QWEL reference manual. This includes topics on:

=> Sustainable landscape design principles,
=> Soil properties and health,
=> Plant water needs,
=> Overhead spray irrigation system audits
=> Irrigation system troubleshooting and maintenance
=> Irrigation system programming and operation

In order to obtain QWEL certification, individuals must complete an irrigation audit (covered in class) and pass the QWEL exam. The QWEL exam will be administered in-person on 8/23/2024.

Space is limited. Registration closes on 07/23/2026 or when class is full. Additional details will be provided prior to the class after you register.

Those who earn their QWEL certification will be listed as a Certified Professional on the QWEL and U.S. EPA WaterSense websites.

For more information, please contact:
Aliza Olmos
[email protected]
(909) 793-2503

06/20/2026

🔹 Waterwise Gardening Partner 🔹
Interested in designing a Waterwise garden at home, work, and in your communiy? Our website offers some new resources for gardeners and homeowners courtesy of the Chino Basin Water Conservation District. Their Waterwise Community Center has solutions, garden features, and practical advice for why you should consider a Waterwise or California native landscape renovation.

There's also a free 2.5-hour introduction workshop on Landscape Renovation for Waterwise Home Gardens, as well as on-demand tutorials, a native plant nursery, and Waterwise design DIY tips:
https://sbvwaterconservation.gov/waterwise-gardening-partners/

06/15/2026

🔹 Fine Gardening Magazine Featured on District’s Website 🔹

With our focus on water conservation, the District has been granted permission from Fine Gardening magazine to share their Spring 2026 article on our website: Healthy Gardens: Strategic Site Water Management for Gardeners - a residential-scale groundwater recharge guide. Author and APLD Certified Landscape Designer Mark G. Brotton shares expert advice on how to treat every drop of water that falls on your property as an asset. The end results are stunning gardens with lower water bills that filter runoff and recharge the local aquifer.

Read the article on our website:
https://sbvwaterconservation.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Brotton_HG_FG227.pdf

06/15/2026

A memorial service honoring former District former Director, Bert Provo "Pete" Marcum Jr., took place this weekend in Redlands. Director Marcum passed away on April 16, 2026 and was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1941.

Over the course of his career, Pete was elected director of several water and soil conservation districts and companies: the Redlands-Highland-Yucaipa Resources Conservation District, the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, and the Bear Valley Mutual Water Company.

At the University of Redlands, Pete met many of his lifetime buddies and joined the Kappa Sig fraternity. Most importantly, he met his future wife, Barbara, in the U of R lunch line. After surviving perilous rides in his Austin Healey, they married in 1966 at the First Congregational Church of Redlands, honeymooned in Yosemite, and moved into their forever home.

Pete studied business and finance, but wound up in the citrus business like his forebears, first as pest control manager at Redlands Farming Company. In 1968, he took over as farm manager for Citrus Management. When the two concerns combined in 1972, Pete became manager of 4500 acres of citrus, involving 65 groves, 37 water companies, and an army of smudgers when the freezes came. Most mornings, he would join other growers at the A&W for their "Mentone Coffee Club." In 1984, Pete personally incorporated Redlands Farming Co.

Soil conservation was a heavy concern for Pete throughout his lifetime, having witnessed the devastating effects of DDT early in his career. With each new pest that threatened California crops, he was a vocal advocate for environmentally sustainable protocols over quick fixes. In October 2025, he was honored with the Friend of Farm Bureau award. In the early 2000s, Pete made the momentous decision to transplant his groves with avocados, leading a trend in the area. With his treasured team, he worked the groves until his final day.

He is survived by his daughter, Jill Marcum. To plant trees in Director Marcum's memory, please visit the Sympathy Store:
https://tinyurl.com/2x69bnfe

(Excerpted from the Los Angeles Times, published Jun. 12 to Jun. 14, 2026.)

06/03/2026

We're happy to share this upcoming workshop that is part of the SoCalGas Professional Landscape Series:

"Permeable Everywhere - Slow, Spread, Sink on Every Landscape"

Wednesday, June 17, 2026
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Class is FREE, but registration is required

How much rain did our landscape get? This webinar addresses strategies for answering that question: “All of it!” Capturing rainwater passively in the soils of a landscape offsets future irrigation demand, reduces or eliminates polluted runoff from getting into our local waterways, cools the planet, and sets up a feedback loop of carbon sequestration, reduced energy use, and restoration of the local weather cycle.

Topics include:

> Difference between Active and Passive Capture
> Simple calculations necessary for creating permeability
> Why Nature-based solutions (Very Low Impact Design) are applicable in every landscape
> Ideas for increasing permeability in existing landscapes and updating historical gardens
> Installing and maintaining permeable hardscapes
> Steps to improve infiltration rates on every landscape

REGISTER
https://greengardensgroup.com/g3-events/socal-gas-pro-series-permeable-everywhere-slow-spread-sink-on-every-landscape-260617/

Bonus: This class can be counted towards CEUs.

Sponsored by Southern California Gas Company in collaboration with
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Join us Wednesday, June 17, 2026, for a free three- hour Live Zoom Webinar on, "Permeable Everywhere - Slow, Spread, & Sink on Every Landscape," hosted by

05/28/2026

🔹 11th Annual Bucky Ball Good Egg Award 🔹

Thank you San Bernardino County Museum and the 11th Annual Bucky Ball! The District was honored with the Museum Foundation's 2026 Good Egg Award which recognizes organizations & individuals that demonstrate exemplary guidance and generosity in helping the Museum thrive. “The San Bernardino County Museum has been an incredible partner in our effort to provide water conservation education opportunities for the community through student field trips and a Waterwise garden project,” said General Manager Miller Vixie. “From day one I could not be more impressed with the leadership provided by Museum Director David Myers and Chief Deputy Tamara Serrao-Leiva.”

Photo Caption: (left to right) Abby Flores, Immediate Past President of the San Bernardino County Museum Foundation, Betsy Miller Vixie, District General Manager, Melody McDonald District Board President, and John Longville, District Director. Photo credit: San Bernardino County Museum Foundation

05/19/2026

🔹 Closed-Loop AI Pilot 🔹
Last month, our Board's Finance & Administration Committee viewed a demonstration of a closed-loop AI system purpose-built to house and search a century of District records. The goal of the project is to ensure that 114 years of institutional history is thoughtfully categorized and catalogued, transforming District archives into a living resource that actively informs and strengthens the work the District does today – maximizing efficient delivery of recharge benefits to the community. To support this process the District is implementing a digital records management system for both historical as well as current District records.