The water district manages all of the county's wholesale drinking water resources, provides flood protection, and oversees the well being of county watersheds, including groundwater basins, hundreds of miles of streams, and 10 reservoirs.
Board Director-At-Large Cy Mann first moved to involve young people in the dealings of the district in July of this year, when he led the creation of the agency's Youth Stewardship Commission, according to a statement from the water district.
The commission aims to provide interested young people with insight into careers in the water industry, as well as ways to foster environmentally conscious habits that help sustain water sources like creeks, bays and watersheds, the district said.
The commission currently has open positions for youths interested in working with the water district, the agency said on Tuesday. Applications are available online at the water district's Website, www.valleywater.org.
Expanding on this first step toward youth input on water policies in Santa Clara County, Mann suggested on Monday that positions be created on some of the organizations nine advisory committees, the water district reported.
Youths that fill the newly established advisory committee positions will work alongside the young people that make up the Youth Stewardship Commission, as well as adults in the advisory committees, the district said in Tuesday's announcement.
"It's another great opportunity for the youth the be engaged and to learn how our advisory committees assist the board of directors on important issues," Mann said.
