Amelia Herndon-Steen, Water Use Efficiency Manager

We're proud to spotlight Amelia Herndon-Steen, Santa Margarita Water District's Water Use Efficiency Manager-a dedicated leader who's as passionate about sustainable landscapes as she is about helping our customers make the most of every drop.

In her role, Amelia oversees a talented team of Water Efficiency Specialists and Water Resiliency Representatives who support customers with irrigation troubleshooting, leak inspections, and water-saving programs. Whether it's a simple fix or a full landscape transformation, Amelia and her team are here to help residents conserve our most precious resource.

Amelia's path to SMWD is rooted in deep experience and a strong sense of environmental stewardship. A licensed landscape architect with a degree in Landscape Architecture from UC Davis and a Master's in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona, she spent 15 years helping cities, businesses, and homeowners design landscapes that are not only beautiful-but sustainable. Her certification as a landscape designer adds yet another layer of expertise that benefits the District and our community every day.

What drives Amelia is the belief that landscapes are more than just outdoor spaces-they're living systems that can enrich our lives. "A well-designed landscape can save water, improve air quality, support pollinators, and even grow food," she says. "Water powers all of this. We have to use it wisely to keep these benefits going."

She finds joy in helping customers connect with their surroundings, whether that means programming an irrigation timer, identifying a leak, or teaching why native milkweed is essential to the survival of Monarch butterflies.

Amelia also reminds residents of a few key tips: Know where your home's shutoff valve is, adjust irrigation settings in the fall with shorter days, and remember-just one sprinkler head uses as much water per minute as your shower.

When she's not working, Amelia enjoys getting her hands dirty in the garden, going on nature hikes, and spending time with her children, learning about their hobbies, too. Amelia lead the design of the WaterWorks Garden at the SMWD headquarters. Customers are able to visit the garden and take a virtual guided tour, or in-person tours at the Water Festival.

We're proud to have Amelia as part of the SMWD team, and proud of the incredible work she does to support a water-wise future for us all.