MAY 3 PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON WATER QUANTITY

An introduction for the non-scientist

BELLINGHAM — The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project is hosting a public workshop to introduce the public to the basics of hydrology—the study of water on, over, and under the earth’s surface—using local information and geography as examples. The workshop, which is designed to help citizens better understand an upcoming water-quantity analysis, will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Meridian High School, 194 W. Laurel Road. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will give a presentation on hydrology and the water quantity information collected to date, with a question-and-answer session to follow.

The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project is conducting a study of the amount of ground and surface water in the Nooksack River basin and certain adjacent watersheds—collectively called Water Resources Inventory Area No. 1 (WRIA 1)—as well as current and future water demands. The first phase of the study, a compilation of current data on water quantity, was performed by the USGS and is now complete.

"We hope the workshop will help citizens understand the basics of a water quantity analysis and why a study of this kind is needed in this area," said Bruce Roll, the Whatcom County Water Resources Division manager and a staff member of the project. "The workshop is also going to cover how the water quantity analysis will tie into the water quality and instream flow studies that will also be underway this summer. These are complex issues, and we’d like to help people get a head start in understanding them before actual policy decisions are made."

This public workshop is the second of a series hosted by the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project to help educate citizens about water issues in the Nooksack River basin and certain adjacent watersheds. The first workshop, which discussed instream flows, was held on February 17, 2000.

The water quantity study is funded in part by a grant from the state Department of Ecology. In addition, citizen volunteers and staff from the City of Bellingham, Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Tribe, Public Utility District No.1 and Whatcom County are contributing resources to the assessment. The water quantity study is one component of the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project’s technical work. The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project brings together citizens, local governments, tribes, and state and federal agencies to develop plans for water allocation, protecting water quality, and restoring fish habitat.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 21, 2000	CONTACT Scarlet Tang, (360) 676-6736
MAY 3 PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON WATER QUANTITY An introduction for the non-scientist BELLINGHAM — The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project is hosting a public workshop to introduce the public to the basics of hydrology—the study of water on, over, and under the earth’s surface—using local information and geography as examples. The workshop, which is designed to help citizens better understand an upcoming water-quantity analysis, will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Meridian High School, 194 W. Laurel Road. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will give a presentation on hydrology and the water quantity information collected to date, with a question-and-answer session to follow. The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project is conducting a study of the amount of ground and surface water in the Nooksack River basin and certain adjacent watersheds—collectively called Water Resources Inventory Area No. 1 (WRIA 1)—as well as current and future water demands. The first phase of the study, a compilation of current data on water quantity, was performed by the USGS and is now complete. "We hope the workshop will help citizens understand the basics of a water quantity analysis and why a study of this kind is needed in this area," said Bruce Roll, the Whatcom County Water Resources Division manager and a staff member of the project. "The workshop is also going to cover how the water quantity analysis will tie into the water quality and instream flow studies that will also be underway this summer. These are complex issues, and we’d like to help people get a head start in understanding them before actual policy decisions are made." This public workshop is the second of a series hosted by the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project to help educate citizens about water issues in the Nooksack River basin and certain adjacent watersheds. The first workshop, which discussed instream flows, was held on February 17, 2000. The water quantity study is funded in part by a grant from the state Department of Ecology. In addition, citizen volunteers and staff from the City of Bellingham, Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Tribe, Public Utility District No.1 and Whatcom County are contributing resources to the assessment. The water quantity study is one component of the WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project’s technical work. The WRIA 1 Watershed Management Project brings together citizens, local governments, tribes, and state and federal agencies to develop plans for water allocation, protecting water quality, and restoring fish habitat.