The public is invited to a panel discussion to understand the merits and possible drawbacks of the City of Bend’s Surface Water Project on Monday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m.  The discussion is hosted by Oregon State University -Cascades Natural Resources program, joined by COTV's Talk of the Town and 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, with Dave Jones, Talk of the Town.  Panelists include Bend City Council members Mark Capell and Jim Clinton, local attorney Bill Buchanan, Ryan Houston of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Bonnie Lamb from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Kyle Gorman of the Oregon Water Resources Department, and OSU adjunct instructor Bruce Aylward.  State hydrologist Jonathan LaMarche will present on the area‘s hydrology. 

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, and a discussion on whether the current option is the optimal option right now.  

Themes of the discussion will include costs of various options ; justification behind the expansion; potential ecological impacts of ground versus surface water options; surface 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 the community.  Seating is limited and an RSVP is requested at 541-388-5814 or talk@bendbroadband.net .  Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.   For information contact 541-322-3100 or visit www.osucascades.edu and www.talkofthetownco.com. 

 This Talk of The Town episode will be available for viewing beginning Monday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. and  10:00 p.m. on BendBroadband COTV channel 11 and on COTV on Demand.