OLYMPIA, Wash. — Bringing together the diverse interests of local, federal and state governments, Indian tribes, environmentalists and the business community to work together on water quality and availability issues is the subject of a four-state satellite video program, “Living on the edge: Grassroots watershed planning in the Pacific Northwest.”
“The federal Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act are increasing the pressure on local communities to address watershed management issues,” said Jan Seago, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Thurston County. “But,” she said “it’s far from clear how communities bring together various government organizations and interest groups to deal with local watershed issues.”
The program will be broadcast May 31 to 30 cooperative extension offices throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. The 45-minute video will demonstrate how other Northwest groups have successfully brought together diverse interests to address local watershed planning.
A live panel discussion will accompany the video. Local discussions will follow at each cooperative extension site where additional information about watershed planning and funding opportunities will be available.
A complete listing of offices where the broadcast may be viewed is available at the Washington Water Website at http://wawater.wsu.edu, or by calling Seago at 360/786-5445, extension 7911.
Cooperative extension at Washington State University, Oregon State University, University of Idaho and University of Alaska are sponsoring the program in partnership with Capital Press, and state and federal environmental agencies.
EDITORS: Counties hosting the satellite conference are:
WASHINGTON
Chelan
Clallum
Clark
Columbia
Ferry
Jefferson
King
Kitsap
Mason
Pend Oreille
Pierce
Skamania
Spokane
Stevens
Thurston
Walla Walla
Whatcom
Yakima
OREGON
Clatsop
Dechutes
Douglas
Malheur
Marion
Wallowa
IDAHO
Ada
Bannock
Fremont
Lewis
Washington
ALASKA LOCATION
Anchorage campus
– 30 –