Santa Fe Irrigation District celebrates 100 years of service

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Honored guests and speakers raise their glasses to celebrate the Santa Fe Irrigation District 100th Anniversary (jon clark)

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Santa Fe Irrigation District board president Michael Hogan (center) and general manager Al Lau (far right) receive a proclamation from representatives of State Senator Catherine Blakespear and State Assembly members Tasha Boerner and Brian Maienschein

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Kellie Hinze (San Dieguito Water District board member and Encinitas City Council)

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San Diego County Water Authority general manager Sandy Kerl

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A representative from the office of State Senator Catherine Blakespear addresses guests at the 100th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Irrigation District

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Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner

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Visitors tour the San Dieguito Dam at the west end of the reservoir

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Santa Fe Irrigation District board president Michael Hogan

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Santa Fe Irrigation District general manager Al Lau

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The San Dieguito Dam is at the west end of the reservoir

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Chris Robbins (Vallecitos Water District), Sandy Kerl (GM, San Diego County Water Authority), Kim Thorer (Olivenhain Municipal Water District) (jon clark)

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Mary Kazngu (San Dieguito Water District), Vicki Quiram (Carlsbad Municipal Water District) (jon clark)

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Lindsay Leahy (Oceanside Water Utility District), Kyle Swanson (Padre Dam Santee), Sarah Hodge (Association of California Water Agencies) (jon clark)

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Ryan Green and Paul Bushee (Leucadia Waste Water District), Tom Kennedy (GM, Rainbow Municipal Water District) (jon clark)

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Sandy Kerl (GM, San Diego County Water Authority), Tom Kennedy (GM, Rainbow Municipal Water District) (jon clark)

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Kellie Hinze (San Dieguito Water District and Encinitas City Council), Isam Hireish (San Dieguito Water District) (jon clark)

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Neal Meyers (Dir, Olivenhain Municipal Water District), Lindsay Leahy (Oceanside Water Utility District) (jon clark)

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San Diego County Water Authority general manager Sandy Kerl (third from left) presents a proclamation to the board members of the Santa Fe Irrigation District (jon clark)

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Chris Bozir (Dir of Distribution Services, Operations Mgr), Jessica Miles (Human Resources), Robert Masterson (Accounting), Erica Saenz (Accounting), Jason Meyer (Construction Supervisor), Nick Isabell (Operations Supervisor), Jeff Nightingale (Facilities Locator and Inspector), Justin Harrod (Water Conservation Technician) (jon clark)

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The Santa Fe Irrigation District celebrates its 100th anniversary (jon clark)

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Santa Fe Irrigation District general manager Al Lau welcomes guests to the 100th Anniversary celebration (jon clark)

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Honored guests and speakers raise their glasses to celebrate the Santa Fe Irrigation District 100th Anniversary (jon clark)

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Priscilla Huang (Representative from the office of Congressman Scott Peters), Gabriela Dow (Ardurra) (jon clark)

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David Zito (San Elijo Joint Powers Authority and Solana Beach City Council), Doug Gillingham (Santa Fe Hills HOA) (jon clark)

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Al Lau (GM, Santa Fe Irrigation District), Simon Wong (VP, Kleinfelder), Rob Weber (Ardurra), Shane Trussell (Trussell Technologies), Eileen Idica (Trussell Technologies) (jon clark)

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The San Dieguito Dam is at the west end of the reservoir (jon clark)

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Robert Masterson (Santa Fe Irrigation District), Carlos Quintero (GM, Sweetwater Authority) (jon clark)

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Santa Fe Irrigation District board members Michael Hogan (Board President and District 4 Rep), Sandra Johnson (District 3 Rep) (jon clark)

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Santa Fe Irrigation District board president Michael Hogan (third from left) receives a proclamation from representatives of State Senator Catherine Blakespear and State Assembly members Tasha Boerner and Brian Maienschein (jon clark)

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Jill MacDonald (Encinitas City Council), David Zito (San Elijo Joint Powers Authority and Solana Beach City Council), Kristi Becker (San Elijo Joint Powers Authority and Encinitas City Council) (jon clark)

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Lesa Heebner (Solana Beach Mayor), Jewel Edson (Solana Beach City Council), Kellie Hinze (Encinitas City Council) (jon clark)

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Marissa Potter (Dir, Engineering Services Santa Fe Irrigation District), Troy Hedlund (Carollo Engineers) (jon clark)

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Bruce Ehlers (Encinitas City Council), Al Lau (General Manager, Santa Fe Irrigation District) (jon clark)

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James Gilpin (Best Best and Krieger, LLP), Carmen Kasner (Ardurra) (jon clark)

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David Harris (Maintenance Supv, Santa Fe Irrigaton District), Memo Preciado (Retired from Santa Fe Irrigation District) (jon clark)

June 26, 2023 1:16 PM PT

The Santa Fe Irrigation District (SFID) commemorated its 100-year anniversary at a “Century of Service” celebration on June 21 with community leaders and neighbors.

The district was established in 1923 as a California Special District under the Irrigation District Act of 1887 and currently provides drinking and recycled water services for more than 19,800 residents in the City of Solana Beach, as well as the unincorporated communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch.

The event was held at the San Dieguito Reservoir and recognized the significant contributions SFID has made to the community’s water supply over the past 100 years and an opportunity to reflect on SFID’s rich history and remarkable milestones achieved over the past century, according to a SFID news release.

SFID has been at the forefront of providing potable water and recycled water services to the local communities. Initially supplying water from Lake Hodges to meet the agricultural irrigation needs of the area, SFID has evolved over the years to service residential, commercial, institutional, and agricultural customers.

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot provided the following message from Sacramento: “Many thanks to the Santa Fe Irrigation District for 100 years of service. We appreciate this century-long legacy of water service to generations of Californians and look forward to continuing to partner on adjusting to the changing climate by improving water efficiency and diversifying our water supply.”

A staff member from the office of US Congressman Scott Peters delivered a proclamation for SFID, which is part of District 50, at the event. And Congressman Mike Levin sent the following message, “Congratulations to the Santa Fe Irrigation District on 100 years of serving our community! As Californians, we all understand the importance of conserving water and the impact droughts have on our daily lives. I’m grateful to have SFID as a partner in the work to strengthen our local water independence.” --SFID news release

Photos by Jon Clark

Santa Fe Irrigation District celebrates 100 years of service

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