Irvine Ranch Water District General Manager Paul D. Jones, II Leaves District

July 12, 2011 - PRLog -- After more than 12 years of exceptional leadership, the tenure of Irvine Ranch Water District General Manager, Paul D. Jones, II is coming to a close on Friday, July 15. Jones will assume the position of General Manager/CEO of Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside County.

“Paul is a visionary, who continually led IRWD to reach new heights within the water industry,” said Steve LaMar, President of the IRWD Board of Directors. “Paul’s steady guidance and strong leadership are truly appreciated by the District’s Board and staff. We all wish him well in his new position with Eastern.”

Jones was instrumental in establishing IRWD as a progressive organization that is known for its diverse and reliable water supply portfolio, extensive recycled water program and innovative water use efficiency programs. During his tenure, IRWD developed a wide variety of creative programs and projects including urban runoff treatment programs and natural resource management at the San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, an education partnership with the Discovery Science Center, and the consolidations of the Los Alisos Water District, Santiago County Water District and Orange Park Acres into IRWD.

Under Jones’ leadership, the District negotiated and executed agreements for the transfer and exchange of water to be recharged, stored and recovered from the District’s Water Banking Project in Kern County. This project is thriving, with 502 acres of recharge ponds and seven recovery wells. Further, Jones worked to secure $20 million in federal funding for groundwater and surface water improvement in the Irvine Basin and was instrumental in enacting an array of state legislation on topics ranging from recycled water to allocation based rate structures to municipal financing.

“IRWD is and always will be a highlight of my career,” Jones said. “Over the last 12 and half years, I’ve been proud to work at such a progressive, innovative agency. IRWD staff exudes true team spirit and is committed to providing excellence in all they do.”

Previously, Jones served as General Manager of the Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts in Carson. He was responsible for the operation of two wholesale water districts governed by separate elected boards. Jones also worked as a Principal Engineer for engineering firm John M. Tettemer and Associates and as Director of Regional Infrastructure Planning and Manager of Infrastructure Project Engineering with the Irvine Company. His other water industry work includes experience as Senior Engineer and Assistant to the General Manager at Municipal Water District of Orange County.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in water resources from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is a registered civil engineer in the state of California. He is a member of the National Engineering Honor Society, Tau Be Pi. He has served on the City of Tustin Planning Commission and on the Board of the California Urban Water Agencies. He has also been associated with the Western Urban Water Coalition, the WateReuse Association, Orange County Water Association, Nature Reserve of Orange County, New Water Supply Coalition, Orange County Transportation Cleanup Allocation Committee, the California Municipal Utilities Association and the Shadetree Partnership.

Jones and his wife, Julie, live in the City of Orange. They have four children.

Eastern Municipal Water District is located in Riverside County and provides water, wastewater service and recycled water to approximately 755,000 people in a 542-square-mile service area. Eastern is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the wholesale agency that imports water to Southern California.

Located in central Orange County, California, IRWD provides water, wastewater, recycled water and urban runoff management services to a population of 340,000 in Irvine, Tustin Ranch, Portola Hills, Foothills Ranch, Santa Ana Heights, Orange Park Acres and portions of Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Orange and unincorporated Orange County. For more information about IRWD, please visit www.irwd.com.