IID Hosts Earth Day Celebration With Community Activities and Sustainability Outreach

-Editorial 

The Imperial Irrigation District hosted an Earth Day celebration on April 25 at its headquarters, 333 E. Baroni Blvd, offering a range of family-friendly activities and information on environmental stewardship and customer programs.

The event featured hands-on planting activities, waste management education, a children’s zone with splash pools, music, food vendors, and pet adoption opportunities. Attendees also received free giveaways and participated in prize drawings held every 15 minutes.

District staff provided information on customer assistance and energy programs, including READY, CARE, EASE, Budget Billing, and energy efficiency initiatives. Educational materials were also available on topics such as safe drinking water, wetlands, and hazardous materials.

“You learn what’s available in your community, and that’s important,” said Imperial resident Maria Orozco. “I didn’t know there were places where my husband could drop off used oil, and now we do. Having a place to take it and access to this kind of information is really useful for the community.”

“This is my third year coming to the event. The first one was at the fairgrounds, then the second one here, and this year I brought my granddaughter,” said Imperial resident Karen Burke. “They have a lot of nice activities for her, and she gets to learn things, and I get to learn things too, like the energy-efficient light bulbs they give away and all the information they provide.”

Sarah Garcia, a member of the Imperial Valley College Ag Club, said her group aims to broaden public understanding of agriculture and provide students with practical experience. Garcia is majoring in agriculture, plant, and soil science.  

“Many people think agriculture is just fields, but there are many different branches,” Garcia said. “Being involved has given me hands-on experience through internships, learning opportunities, and connections. It’s also great to be here, see other booths and show people what we do so they know what’s possible if they join IVC.”

IID Director Division 2 JB Hamby said the agency’s role extends beyond water and power delivery to active participation in environmental protection and sustainability efforts across the Imperial Valley.

“The district serves water and power, but we’re critically engaged in environmental initiatives, whether it’s water conservation, energy efficiency, or the species we work with, including endangered species here in the Imperial Valley, and protecting those,” Hamby said. “Our work at the Salton Sea and elsewhere shows that IID is very committed to environmental stewardship and being a good steward of the environment. We encourage people coming here today to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day to do what they can, from recycling to saving a little and being more energy efficient, because those are all things individuals can do to help protect our environment.”

Dippy Duck was also present at the event, taking photos with children and residents throughout the day. The long-running character is set to mark a milestone next week, celebrating 60 years as a symbol of water safety education and public outreach for the Imperial Irrigation District. Over the decades, Dippy Duck has served as a familiar figure in promoting safe water practices and environmental awareness across IID’s service area.