Mike McNutt of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District discusses California wildfires
Public Affairs and Communications Manager for Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Mike McNutt speaks with WaterWorld Editor-in-Chief Mandy Crispin about how the California wildfires are affecting utilities.
Watch the video to gain perspective on what utilites are facing during the wildfires.
McNutt also discusses the postponement of OceanWell's deep ocean desalination pod due to ongoing wildfires in the state.
Mike McNutt joined Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) in 2017 as the public affairs and communications manager after spending time at Palmdale Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, immersing himself in California water and its unique complexities. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Mike received degrees in environmental science and communications from Ohio State University, where he remains active in the college of environmental science alumni group.
Embarking on a career in public service post-graduation he worked for various community organizations, elected officials and government agencies throughout Ohio gaining valuable experience in emergency communications, public health outreach and community services.
At LVMWD Mike has used these experiences to respond to emergencies such as the 2018 Woolsey Fire, COVID-19 pandemic and generational drought while developing both internal and external communication strategies rooted in a commitment to transparency, equity, innovation and an ethos of community first.
In 2023, Mike and his team were awarded the Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials for their work on drought outreach, media relations, and emergency response.
Mike serves the LVMWD on the diversity & inclusion committee, the community as the chair of the board for the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, the water industry as the chair of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies Communication Committee and a member on their program committee, and is the proud owner of a rescued greyhound named Wendell and supporter of SaveGrey.org.
