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EMWD Water Champion Award

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Honored with EMWD Water Champion Award

Perris, CA (May 15, 2024) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) recognized the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians (Soboba) today with its Water Champion Award.

EMWD’s Water Champion Award is presented to individuals or organizations who show exemplary service in helping EMWD achieve its mission to deliver value to its diverse customers and the communities it serves by providing safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water service.

The award was presented at EMWD’s Board of Directors meeting.

In presenting the award to the Soboba Tribal Council and Administration, EMWD praised Soboba’s commitment to protecting natural resources and long-term resource sustainability.
Soboba has worked to improve quality of life for residents throughout the San Jacinto Valley through its economic development programs and has supported efforts to advance recreational opportunities at Diamond Valley Lake.

Soboba, along with EMWD and other regional partners, have worked to help create long-term water supply sustainability within the San Jacinto Valley. This includes a regional effort to replenish water supplies for the benefit of Soboba and all other users as well as implementation of groundwater pumping criteria.

“The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians has been a valued partner for many years in supporting groundwater sustainability efforts throughout the region,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “Because of their commitment to natural resources, our region has a more sustainable water supply future. “We sincerely appreciate the longstanding partnership Soboba and EMWD share.”

Past winners of the award include: The County of Riverside, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congressman Ken Calvert, Congressman Mark Takano, Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, former State Sen. Bill Emmerson, former Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, retired United States Bureau of Reclamation area manager Bill Steele, and former California Gov. Jerry Brown.