Will Stokes receives honor

The board of directors of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District recently honored Will Stokes as its Citizen of the Month. The year-long series of recognitions are helping to commemorate the district's 50th anniversary.

Stokes served as the district's general manager and chief engineer from 1965 through 1988. During that time, he oversaw the design and construction of most of the district's key systems and components, the largest being the Las Virgenes Reservoir in Westlake Village.

"His foresight provided a firm foundation for the growth of the district's systems that reliably serve some 65,000 people today," said John Mundy, LVMWD general manager. "We're grateful for his vision, dedication and his commitment to overcoming the many challenges faced by the district during its formative years."

When Stokes arrived at LVMWD in the mid-1960s, the agency had 13 employees and provided service to just over 1,000 customers. The district now has 124 employees and about 21,000 connections, providing water service, recycled water and wastewater treatment to Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County.

Stokes became a pioneer in the development of recycled water as a resource, converting treated wastewater that was previously sent to the ocean into water that could be used for irrigating open spaces and landscapes.