"It's Your Water - Or Is It?" March 20 Town Hall meeting on Nevada County water issues

Published on Mar 12, 2008 - 3:30:54 PM

By: KVMR

Nevada City, California -- On Thursday, March 20, KVMR will present a town hall meeting as a forum for information exchange and discussing water issues in Nevada County. Held from 7-9 p.m. at the Miner's Foundry, 325 Spring Street in Nevada City, the meeting is open to the public. There is no charge.

The town hall meeting will provide an opportunity for Nevada County citizens to become informed as well as share concerns about their local water supply. Issues such as failing wells, climate change, problems with accessing water, low salmon numbers, a possible resurgent peripheral canal project, and NID's plans to bring water to Lincoln make this event even more important.

A panel of experts and local citizens will discuss various relevant topics including state and regional water issues; water management and distribution; climate change; Public Trust Doctrine, water rights and state laws governing water; watershed protection; storage alternatives; Nevada Irrigation District (NID), what is a special district, NID assets including raw and treated water, hydroelectric generation, FERC relicensing, and NID's proposed Lincoln water treatment plant project.

Individual panelists are:

Rob Shibatani, managing partner and consulting hydrologist, The Shibatani Group, Inc., Sacramento. Mr. Shibatani has over 24 years of experience in water resources planning, international hydrological research, new water supply development, CIP permit streamlining, and CVP/Delta operations.

Nicholas A. Jacobs, Somach, Simmons & Dunn, Sacramento. Mr. Jacobs is a shareholder attorney with Somach, Simmons & Dunn and practices in the areas of water law, land use and environmental law.

Jason J. Rainey, Executive Director, South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), Nevada City. Before joining SYRCL in 2005, Jason spent five years directing the habitat restoration, recycling and environmental education programs at the Marin Conservation Corps.

Ron Nelson, General Manager, Nevada Irrigation District (NID), Grass Valley. Mr. Nelson has over 28 years of experience in managing water districts and water policy development.

Chet Krage, retired executive, biomass-fueled electric generation facilities. Mr. Krage is a 22-year resident and property owner in Nevada County who is working with NID to achieve a neighborhood piped raw water system for approximately 150 parcels in South County.

A group of local media representatives consisting of YubaNet, the Union and KNCO will also be present to field and direct additional questions for panel consideration.

While the panelists will be given roughly ten minutes to speak individually on their areas of expertise and concern, the primary purpose of the meeting is to encourage public comments and discussion.

Individuals unable to attend may post questions at http://yubanet.com/water. The site will be checked regularly during the event and questions will be relayed to the panelists. The blog is provided through YubaNet.

The meeting will be broadcast live by KVMR 89.5 Community Radio in Nevada City and facilitated by Michael Thornton, News Director at KVMR. In addition, NCTV Channel 11 plans to videotape the meeting and air during the week following the event.

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