MMWD is offering free table tents to local restaurants to help them spread the word to their customers about serving water on request.

Under the district's water conservation code, restaurants may serve drinking water only upon request. In response to the current drought, MMWD wants to remind restaurants about the code requirement, which was adopted by the MMWD Board of Directors in December 2009. The table tents make it easy for restaurants to inform their customers about this water-saving measure. To order, contact MMWD's Water Conservation Department at 415-945-1520 or conservation@marinwater.org.

In addition, Marin restaurant-goers are invited to participate in a new social media campaign to thank local restaurants for saving water by serving drinking water upon request. Diners can show how their favorite restaurants are promoting drinking water upon request by emailing photos to publicinformation@marinwater.org. MMWD will share the photos on Facebook and Twitter, credit the photographers, and "tag" the restaurants to let them know their efforts are making a difference.

 MMWD is pleased to be a major sponsor and partner of the Earth Day Marin 2014 Festival. The fourth annual festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 11 am - 5 pm at Redwood High School, 395 Doherty Drive in Larkspur. 

 

The free, family-friendly event will include music, hands-on activities, inspiring speakers, storytellers, puppet shows, authors, organic food and more. The event is also a day of action on sustainability solutions addressing drought, climate change and other environmental concerns--providing attendees with numerous efficient and effective actions they can take on site during the event.

 

"We're so fortunate in Marin to have 24/7 access to clean drinking water. The current drought is a reminder that our water supply is a limited community resource. Understanding how much water we each use as individuals is essential to working together to ensure a reliable supply for the future," said MMWD Board President Armando Quintero, who will be among the speakers at the event. "We're delighted to partner with Earth Day Marin to celebrate our 'homegrown' water and help our community take action to always conserve this precious resource."

MMWD is a founding member of the Tamalpais Lands Cooperative (TLC), a new initiative that brings together the resources, talents and philanthropy of the National Park Service, California State Parks, Marin Municipal Water District, Marin County, and the nonprofit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. The result of various collaborative efforts over the last decade, the new entity will support conservation, stewardship and public enjoyment of the nearly 10 square miles of local, state and national parklands that encompass the Mt. Tam region.  

The TLC's mission is to develop and implement various projects and public programs that promote resource management and preservation, increase community support, volunteer stewardship and education, and enhance the visitor experience. The TLC members are now working on more detailed action plans to achieve those broad objectives.

It's not too late to register for the North Bay Watershed Association's biennial conference scheduled for Friday, April 11 at the Stone Tree Golf Club in Novato. This year's theme is "Water Resources Management: What, Where and How." Keynote speakers include U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin and State Water Resources Control Board Chair Felicia Marcus. Water supply, integrated projects, and project funding are the panel discussion topics.