12-14-10 -  The Natural Resources program at Oregon State University - Cascades invites the public to a panel discussion to learn the pros and cons of the City of Bend’s Surface Water Project on Monday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m.  The discussion will take place in Cascades Hall on College Way. 

Matt Shinderman, Ph.D., a senior instructor of Natural Resources at OSU-Cascades and an expert in natural resource issues will facilitate the discussion.  Panelists include experts from the engineering, water resources, conservation and natural resource economic fields.  The discussion will focus on the City’s plan to increase surface water withdrawals from Bridge Creek and will explore other solutions including an option to forego additional surface water withdrawals in exchange for increasing the City’s current groundwater capacity.

Themes of the discussion will include costs of various water solution options; justification behind expansion of the City’s water resource capacity; potential ecological impacts of groundwater versus surface water options;  surface water and groundwater capacity to meet current and future demand; how the City’s plan fits into regional water conservation and habitat improvement initiatives; and the design and decision process.

The event is free to community members.  Seating is limited and doors open at 6:00 p.m.

OSU-Cascades Natural Resources program offers a Bachelor of Science degree through an interdisciplinary program blending science, management and policy. Courses include ecology, fish and wildlife, watershed management, habitat restoration, environmental ethics and law, sociology, and resource policy.

For information contact 541-322-3100 or visit www.osucascades.edu.