Topic:              Upper Chiquita Reservoir – A public agency perspective on building a 165-foot tall earthen embankment dam and the opportunities associated with inundation analysis and other public outreach

Speaker:         Dan Ferons, P.E., General Manager, Santa Margarita Water District

Mr. Ferons has been with SMWD for 27 years.  He started his career with the private sector, but moved to SMWD for the opportunity to gain public sector experience.  During his tenure with SMWD, the District has grown from 13,000 service connections to more than 56,000 with robust development of the water, wastewater and recycled water systems. He has overseen and managed a number of significant milestone projects, including the planning and construction of the Upper Chiquita Reservoir, expansion of the Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant, design and implementation of the Upper Oso Reservoir Oxygenation System and innovative, urban return flow projects such as the Dove Canyon diversion project and Horno Basin urban collection system. Mr. Ferons holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona and is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in California.

Matt Thomas, P.E., West Infrastructure Practice Leader, HDR Engineering

Mr. Thomas has 22 years of consulting experience in planning and design of significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects for public agencies throughout Southern California.  He joined HDR in 2012.  While with his prior firm, he served as project manager for the final planning stages and final design of SMWD’s Upper Chiquita Reservoir.   This effort included providing detailed technical analyses to support SMWD’s efforts for permitting, interagency agreements and coordination, and public outreach.  Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in California.

Synopsis:        SMWD imports its domestic water supply and is committed to plan and develop water infrastructure facilities to protect and enhance local supply reliability.  In response to this commitment, SMWD constructed the Upper Chiquita Reservoir to provide the region with substantial new water reserves to meet customer demand during disruptions of water deliveries to the District.  The Upper Chiquita Reservoir is located on the western slope of Chiquita Canyon, just north of Oso Parkway in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita.  Completed in October 2011, the 244-million gallon Upper Chiquita Reservoir is the largest domestic water reservoir built in south Orange County in nearly 45 years.

                                The SMWD was presented with numerous technical and public outreach opportunities during the procurement, design, and construction of the reservoir.  This presentation will highlight some of the various issues that SMWD navigated over the course of the project.

Time:              Lunch @ 11:50 am; Program ends @ 1:15 pm

Location:         Dave and Busters' at Irvine Spectrum

71 Fortune Drive

Irvine, CA   (949) 727-0555

Cost:               $30 at the door, $23 advance payment by mail or PayPal, $25 registered but pay at the door Unemployed and Students $5 at the door with school ID

                        For PayPal payment, please send payment to: HHTG_OC@yahoo.com

Mail checks payable to "ASCE HHTG" and RSVP to:

                Mujahid Chandoo, HHTG Treasurer

                14725 Alton Parkway

                Irvine, CA 92618

Confirm:        Call (949) 855-7006, or e-mail to: HHTG_OC@yahoo.com