On Thursday, January 19th, CSUF students attended this Month’s Luncheon in Costa Mesa. While here, we were pleased to learn so much about maximized stormwater capture and protection from flood damage. 

 

Attendees heard from Benjamin T. Smith, PE and Director of Recharge and Wetland Operations for the Orange County Water District. The Prado Dam serves explicitly as a way to store and release water, with hopes to expand its capacity in the future. 

 

Student members learned that California recently had five atmospheric rivers in a row, making this an exciting time for water engineers in the state. With this being the case, flood control is the top priority, with the OCWD’s job -conservation- coming second. There is so much that goes into preparing for storm season for the OCWD, including basin cleaning and facility maintenance, especially during storm season when there is a need for continuous bulldozer work to keep basins like the Santa Ana River alive and percolating. 

 

While CSUF students study hydraulics in the classroom, they are grateful for the opportunity to understand better how water engineering impacts our world in a more tangible, visual way. 

 

Thank you to the EWRI and the OC Branch for presenting this luncheon and having us!