California’s voracious wildfires require a rapid and aggressive response from fire crews.

Quite often, that means calling in fixed-wing and rotorcraft air attacks to combat challenging conflagrations by dropping water onto the flames.

Irvine Ranch Water District’s open reservoirs are continuously available and frequently used for these purposes.

Even when there is no blaze in sight, local firefighters and other emergency response teams practice their aerial attacks at IRWD reservoirs.

On a recent sunlit afternoon, a mini swarm of Airbus B2 choppers from Anaheim P.D. performed drills at Irvine Lake -- dipping containers called “Bambi buckets” into the reservoir to fill them and strategically release the water in a targeted area.

Good aim makes all the difference when it comes to a successful drop.

The three whirlybirds – operated by the department’s Air Support Division Patrol – comprise a burly fleet of public safety agency helicopters that are trained, ready and able to respond to a wildfire when called.

Orange County Fire Authority also recently performed dip-and-drop techniques at the District’s San Joaquin recycled water reservoir, said Water Operations Manager Ken Pfister.

“It’s an added benefit of our reservoir system,” Pfister said. “These trainings use very little water, but they are extremely effective at helping our fire safety agencies do their job.”

An Anaheim Police Department Airbus B2 helicopter lifts a Bambi bucket load of water from Irvine Lake.

Accuracy in dropping the water is important in firefighting.

A crew watches as a copter hits its target.

The buckets can hold anywhere from 72 to 2,600 gallons of water for firefighting.

Dust and debris are kicked up by the powerful force of the helicopter's rotating blades during landing.

A trio of discarded bicycle frames, the tattered arm of an over-stuffed sofa, a weather-worn soccer ball and hundreds of discarded cigarette butts and snack wrappers were among the items found during this year’s Annual Watershed Cleanup Day event sponsored Saturday by Irvine Ranch Water District.

More than 150 volunteers participated in the event, donning protective gloves as they searched the San Diego River — on the lookout for debris they could scoop up before it makes its way to the ocean.

More than 200 pounds of trash was collected during the five-hour rummage for rubbish. IRWD’s cleanup, based at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant, was conducted in partnership with Trails4All, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, restoration and preservation of trails and open space throughout Southern California.

The event coincided with California Coastal Cleanup Day – a statewide event organized by the California Coastal Commission with more than 1,000 cleanup locations from San Ysidro to the Redwood National and State parks. Cleanup events in Orange County stretched from the coastline to Silverado Canyon.

Trash tallies from this year’s event were unavailable, but statewide results from 1998 to 2016 were:

• No. 1: Cigarettes/cigarette filters: 7,330,824 (35.96%)
• No. 2: Food wrappers/containers: 2,085,884 (10.23%)
• No. 3: Caps/lids: 1,751,294 (8.59%)
• No. 4: Bags (paper and plastic): 1,530,069 (7.5%)
• No. 5: Cups/plates/utensils: 1,069,074 (5.24%)
• No. 6: Straws/stirrers: 835,425 (4.1%)
• No. 7: Glass bottles: 659,767 (3.24%)
• No. 8: Plastic bottles: 527,352 (2.59%)
• No. 9: Beverage cans: 479,036 (2.35%)
• No. 10: Construction material: 358,733 (1.76%)

Volunteers check in for the California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Volunteers work on picking up the trash at the California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Volunteers haul back trash found during the California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Take a trip to the San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary—a hidden gem in Irvine. The RightScape demonstration garden surrounding the Visitors Center has more than three dozen plant varieties, each identified with a plant marker and QR code for mobile access to plant-care details. California native and non-native drought-tolerant plants are featured in two distinct sections of the landscape. Interpretive signs show how they differ in their growing characteristics and water needs.

Additional signs illustrate how efficient irrigation technology and scheduling keep the garden looking healthy. A stormwater bioswale, consisting of river rocks and stones, runs prominently through the demo garden—to collect rain or irrigation water, helping it seep into the ground instead of running off-site.

Show us how special districts make a difference in your community for a chance to win up to $2,000 in scholarships!

For over 100 years, local service agencies known as special districts have kept our lights on, water flowing, and provided access to a multitude of services that enhance our communities. California’s special districts are much more than local service providers. These local agencies are created by local residents to meet their community’s needs in the most efficient and effective manner.

High school and college students, gather your friends and family to create a fun and informative 60 second video highlighting your local special districts and the difference they make in your community.

The contest rules and application are available at www.DistrictsMaketheDifference.org/video-contest.

Submit your video to info@districtsmakethedifference.org between August 27, 2018, and September 30, 2018.

Contest Awards:

• 1^st Place- $2,000 Scholarship
• 2^nd Place- $1,000 Scholarship
• 3^rd Place- $500 Scholarship

Not Familiar with Special Districts?

Go to www.DistrictsMaketheDifference.org to learn more! There are resources to explain special districts and the important work they do throughout California. The California Special Districts Association also maintains a map to help you find the special districts in your area.

CONTEST QUICK LINKS

• Application
• Rules
• Poster/Flier