(Water safety month)....The IID Board follows tradition.

This week the Board declared May as Water Safety month. It is a tradition that began in 1959. For the past 55 years, the resolution adopted this week paves the way for Imperial Irrigation District mascot Dippy Duck to share the water safety message with school children across the county, as the school year winds down, promoting the safety message all summer long. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, this year's campaign, Stay Active, Play Safe, Be Cool is being presented virtually to local schools. The water safety program actually began April 23rd and will run through June 9th, reinforcing Dippy Duck's three rules; Never swim in a canal, Never run, walk or ride a bicycle near a canal, Never jump in a canal. Dippy Duck has been the IID official water safety mascot since 1966. In addition to the water safety presentations to school children, the District will launch an awareness campaign during the summer, advertising the water safety message in English and spanish across the Valley, including adding new signs near canals as reminders that the best way to stay safe is to stay away. IID, the largest irrigation District in the nation, operates and maintains more than 3,100 miles of canals and drains in Imperial County.