OCWD Board of Directors
President
Cathy Green
First Vice President
Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E.
Second Vice President
Philip L. Anthony
Jordan Brandman
Shawn Dewane
Jan M. Flory, ESQ.
Dina L. Nguyen, ESQ.
Roman Reyna
Stephen R. Sheldon
Roger C. Yoh, P.E.
General Manager
Michael R. Markus
P.E., D.WRE.




Celebrate 45th
Annual Earth Day
on April 22
Bringing the poverty, development, climate and sustainability communities together to build a broader and more inclusive global movement is the theme of this year's Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22.

Earth Day has grown from a single-day event to a year-round movement to promote sustainability. It is celebrating its 45th year in 2015.

Earth Day Network (EDN) believes that this will be the most environmentally active and important year yet, according to Kathleen Rogers, president and CEO of EDN. Earth Day Network is an international nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day actions globally and works year round on climate and environmental policy issues and civic engagement.

This year's Earth Day projections include the following:

  • Two billion people across 192 countries will participate in Earth Day 2015, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
  • Hundreds of major cities around the world from Milan to Houston, Delhi to Des Moines, Rome to Seattle, Dallas to Dubai are organizing actions in their communities.
  • Two thousand mayors are expected to participate in Town Hall meetings where local representatives will discuss sustainability issues and solutions with their communities.
  • Global religious leaders will reinforce the spiritual imperative of protecting the Earth.
  • Hundreds of thousands of schools worldwide will participate in Climate Education Week – an educational program empowering today's students to become tomorrow's climate literate, green economy leaders.
  • On the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on April 18, 2015, Earth Day Network will partner with the Global Poverty Project to present "Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day," a large-scale public event that, for the first time, joins the climate movement with movement to end extreme poverty. No Doubt, Usher, Fall Out Boy, Mary J. Blige, Train, and My Morning Jacket are set to headline this free event. It will be hosted by will.i.am and Soledad O'Brien, with special guests Common and D'Banj.

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life. It is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

OCWD is committed to being a steward of the environment. According to OCWD General Manager Mike Markus, "Earth Day is a reminder that we must all do our part to protect the environment and precious resources, especially water."

Please remember to make every day Earth Day and commit to protect the environment. Take this opportunity to recall that earlier this month, Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency, mandating all Californians to reduce their water use by 25 percent. Please do your part!

For information about how to use water wisely indoors and outdoors visit the Save Our Water site.