PULLMAN, Wash. — In one way or another, the quality of water in the Northwest will be addressed by 80 speakers at the Research and Extension Regional Water Quality Conference 2002 in Vancouver, Wash., Feb. 20-21.
“The main objective of the conference is to present current science and scientific advances on water quality issues that are important for the region, as well as their application for technology transfer,” said Michael Barber, director, Washington State Water Research Center on the Washington State University campus.
“This is an excellent opportunity for research, extension, and agency personnel to exchange information,” he said.
About 300 scientists and government agency personnel from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska are expected to attend.
Conference organizers are WSU, University of Idaho, Oregon State University, the University of Alaska and Region 10 of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
“This is hopefully the first of a series of conferences to help guide the regional research and extension agenda for the near future.”
Registration begins at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19. The program begins the next morning. Sample topics include:
- How Damaging are Pesticide Mixtures in Washington State Surface Water to Aquatic Organisms?
- Assessment of Arsenic Levels in the Upper Yakima River Valley, Kittitas County, Wash.
- Groundwater Protection – An Integrated Approach – 20 Years of Spokane Valley Aquifer Protection.
- Protecting Water Quality Through Developing Easy and Acceptable Methods to Compost Horse Stall Waste.
- Spokane Area Storm Water Quality and Best Management Practices Study.
- Low Impact Development: Implementing New Storm-Water Management Strategies to Protect Water Quality and Aquatic Habitat in Western Washington.
- Use of Surface and Subsurface Wetlands for Treatment of Municipal Wastewater.
- DNA Fingerprinting of Bacteria Sources in the Lower Boise River.
- Watershed Restoration in the Willamette Basin.
- The Endangered Species Act and Chlorinated Water Discharges.
- Assessment of Irrigation Return Flows for Salmon Spawning Habitat.
- New Restoration Approach for Steep-Gradient Streams: Spokane River Case Study.
- A Conceptual Model of the Interaction Between the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer and the Spokane River in the East Spokane River Valley, Washington and Idaho.
Meetings will be in the Red Lion Hotel at the Quay. Registration costs $220 with a special rate of $95 for students. For more information about registration, call 1 (800)-942-4978 or e-mail wsuconf@wsu.edu. Program and registration information also is available on the Web at http://www.swwrc.wsu.edu/.
– 30 –