Hints of spring as first wildflowers bloom at Diamond Valley Lake. Photo by Greg Widman
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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A weekly newsletter by and for Metropolitan employees
March 9, 2020
Congressional Hearing Focus on Southland Water
Chairwoman Gloria Gray testified at a Congressional field hearing in Baldwin Park last Friday on ways the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can support projects and programs that are important to Southern California's water reliability.

At the invitation of Representative Grace Napolitano (D-El Monte), Chairwoman Gray discussed three key issues:

State Water Project: “We need the continued active engagement of the U.S. Army Corps as a partner" for habitat and flood projects such as those in the Yolo Bypass, the Chairwoman testified, "and for the single tunnel project to move forward.”

Recycled Water: As Metropolitan considers building the largest water recycling project in the nation, the Chairwoman explained that “constructive engagement of the Corps will be important” for permits and right-of-way issues.

Reservoir Management : Many local groundwater basins are recharged by reservoirs that are governed by the Corps' operational rules. With improved weather forecasting, changes to these rules could continue to maintain flood protection while increasing groundwater replenishment.

“Roundtables like these can advance the collaboration we need for the Corps to meet its mission and for Congress to help us all make progress,” Chairwoman Gray told dozens of federal and state officials.

Following the hearing, the Chairwoman joined the group for an aerial tour of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles River systems, and visits to coastal projects and the Port of Long Beach.
Metropolitan's Innovative Canal Cleaning System
Anyone who has ever removed buildup on surfaces around your home can appreciate the inventiveness of the Aqueduct Maintenance Team’s approach to cleaning tunnels and scraping the canals of the Colorado River Aqueduct.

John Helton , an O&M tech IV based in Iron Mountain, says a 2009 re-configuring of the tunnel-cleaning machine boosted the CRA’s maximum capacity from 1,625 to 1,734 cubic feet per second (think of a cubic foot like a basketball-sized water drop floating by). That’s more than 215 acre-feet per day.

Watch a short video of the canal cleaning here .

In 2015, the three-person team expanded their attention to the open aqueduct, where buildup can narrow channels and require operators to dial back pumps so that water doesn’t spill out onto the dirt. This canal-scraping equipment consisted of two backhoes equipped with custom designed bucket scrapers.
“The results were amazing,” reducing water levels as much as 18 inches, John says. 

For the last three CRA shutdowns, the new saw-tooth design has been like "switching from a butter knife to a steak knife," John says. It removes up to two inches of debris on a 15- to 20-mile section between the Eagle Mountain and Hinds pumping plants during the 2020 CRA shutdown. “You can’t go buy this equipment. You have to build it yourself,” John says.

Inspection Trip Manager Bart Garcia , who used to document the success of these operations while serving as a WSO engineer, says that “this year, they were able to scrape down to the bare concrete at places. The team has really improved the process.”
Strength and Faith Are Core to Her Success Story
Did you know that Metropolitan has its very own Rosie the Riveter?  Xiomara Funez shares many of the same skills and determination as the iconic WWII symbol of women’s empowerment in the workforce.

Xiomara is an O&M Tech I in the Facilities Team and works at HQ. She does a variety of tasks - everything from moving furniture to replacing keys to changing light bulbs. She likes to say that her strength is not just the physical ability needed to do her tasks, but comes from her deep faith and perseverance. 

Xiomara previously worked as a caregiver, helping others with their needs. But after her daughter was in a paralyzing accident and her eldest son died, she found herself grieving and needing strength. She found it in her church and now shares her story. “When you have faith, everything is possible.”

After recovering from her losses, Xiomara wanted to work in a new job that would allow her to help others in a new way. A friend who worked in construction told Xiomara about WINTER-- Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles.

Metropolitan supports WINTER, a non-profit organization that trains and promotes employment for women in non-traditional roles in the construction industry.

Xiomara spent three months in a program gaining new skills in electrical, roofing, plumbing and environmental services.

One of her jobs before coming to Metropolitan was handling hazardous materials cleanup from the 2018 Malibu fires. “Helping others in those communities after that disaster was very rewarding,” she says. No doubt about it -  Xiomara is Metropolitan-strong. 
New hires, transfers, promotions & retirements are posted here each month.
NEXT LIST: April 6
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