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The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District) conducted its first meeting under a new governing board following the oath ceremony for Board Directors Ed Chavez, Charles Treviño, and Katarina Garcia. District Counsel administered the oath of office to the newly elected directors via teleconference. Although the oaths were conducted through Zoom, which has become synonymous with the pandemic, congratulatory remarks and local support remained unchanged.
Upper District’s water retailers, agency staff and local elected officials attended the meeting to welcome the incoming board members.
With this new term, Directors Chavez and Treviño will be entering their fourth term in office, serving 16 years since they were elected in 2008. Director Garcia is newly elected to the Board and is the first Latina and Asian-Pacific Islander to serve on the Upper District board.
Director Garcia is elected to her first term in office and will represent Division 4 which includes the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Glendora, Irwindale, and West Covina. Garcia is a science teacher at West Covina High School where she teaches Biology and AP Environmental Science. Her passion for water can be found in her commitment to educate her students on the importance of conservation and sustainability. Director Garcia’s priorities will be focused on water sustainability for the region and continuing the District’s leadership in water education and conservation programs for the youth.
Director Trevino represents Division 2 which includes the cities of South Pasadena, San Gabriel, Rosemead and portions of Temple City and Arcadia. Trevino expressed his commitment to water sustainability and representing Upper District’s on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California where he has advocated for the regional water needs of the San Gabriel Valley.
Director Chavez will continue to represent Division 3 which includes the cities and unincorporated areas of Industry, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, North Whittier, South El Monte, and West Covina. Chavez has been a strong supporter of Upper District’s recycled water projects and finding alternative solutions for groundwater sustainability and water management. Director Chavez has served as Board President for the past three years, most recently overseeing Upper District’s 60th Anniversary.
The Upper District is governed by five elected directors representing geographic divisions within Upper District’s boundaries. Each is elected to serve a four-year term. With the recent election, the Board now includes Directors Ed Chavez, President (Division 3), Charles Treviño, Treasurer (Division 2), Anthony Fellow, Secretary (Division 1), Katarina Garcia (Division 4), and Jennifer Santana (Division 5).
Upper District’s mission is to provide a reliable, sustainable, diversified, and affordable portfolio of high-quality water supplies to the San Gabriel Valley; including water conservation, recycled water, storm water capture, storage, water transfers and imported water. Upper District services nearly one million people in its 144 square mile service territory. Governed by a five-member elected board of directors, Upper District is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Annually, more than 78 billion gallons of water is used in Upper District’s service area.
For more information about Upper District, please visit our website www.upperdistrict.org or call 626-443-2297.
