NID, Environmental Groups to debate Centennial project this Tuesday

April 28, 2017 – Speakers from both the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) and environmental groups will square off on the merits of the one of the most controversial proposed projects in recent years, the Centennial Reservoir Project, which includes construction of a dam on the Bear River between the existing Combie and Rollins reservoirs. The event, which is sponsored by the Nevada County Democrats, will take place Tuesday, May 2 starting at 6:30 pm at the Peace Lutheran Church, 828 W. Main St. in Grass Valley.

NID and other proponents assert that the project is necessary to provide drought and climate change mitigation, meet projected future water supply needs, and improve supply reliability for NID customers. Opponents claim that the project is unnecessary and destructive to the environment, that there are cheaper and more common sense solutions to increasing water storage and that NID has wildly underestimated the costs to the public and its customers.

Speaking in favor of the project will be Remleh Scherzinger and Nick Wilcox. Scherzinger is the General Manager of Nevada Irrigation District. He is a member of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Region 3 Board and serves on ACWA’s Drought Action Group.  Wilcox has been a member of the NID Board of Directors since 2008. He accrued 40 years of experience in the water industry prior to his elected position.

Speaking on behalf of groups opposed to the project will be Otis Wollan and Traci Sheehan. Wollan is president of the American River Watershed Institute and was a five-term elected Director of the Placer County Water Agency.  Sheehan is the Coordinator of the Foothills Water Network, a coalition of conservation and recreation groups whose mission is to protect and enhance aquatic ecosystem health and recreation opportunities in the interlinked Yuba, Bear, and American Rivers.

This event is free and open to the public as part of Nevada County Democrats’ continuing First Tuesday Educational Forum series. A capacity crowd is expected and attendees are urged to come early. Beverages will be available for purchase. For more information click on: http://nevadacountydemocrats.com/ or phone 530-265-3367(265-DEMS)