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H2O – Managing Your Resources: Quality, Quantity, and Water Rights
October 18, 2016 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
$15 – $25The never-ending topic of water – too much, not enough, what’s in it, or should be in it, are all questions at the top of the list for anyone trying to make a living farming. As with so many things, the less you know the more it may cost you later. Join us Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 5:30pm-8:30pm for H2O – Managing Your Water Resources with Bob Simmons, WSU Olympic Region water resources specialist; Scott Patee, Skagit NRCS forecasting expert; John Rose, hydrologist and GIS analyst with Washington Department of Ecology’s Water Resource Program; and Cynthia Krass of the newly minted Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District. Location is WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St SE, Everett, WA You’ll receive an introduction to Washington water law including how it developed, the different types of water rights, limitations and requirements to acquiring and maintaining a water right, and the challenges and opportunities for acquiring a water right. Discover how you can use snowpack and other forecasts to help you plan for the inevitabilities of flooding and drought. Learn how the Snoqualmie Valley started their own Water Improvement District to help bank and share water rights as well as gaining an understanding of what you can do to help improve water quality on and off your farm. Bob Simmons is WSU Extension’s Olympic Region Water Resources Regional Specialist with over 23 years of experience in providing community based natural resource stewardship and conservation programs focusing on water quality in the Puget Sound region. More information at clallam.wsu.edu/watershed-stewardship Scott Pattee has been a Water Supply Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the past 22 years. His focus is on providing mountain snowpack data and streamflow forecasts for the region to help everyone downstream plan for seasonal impacts from flooding and drought as well as agricultural and conservation needs. You’ll find his latest supply forecasts @nrcs_wa_snow. John Rose has a decade’s worth of experience working with groundwater studies, policy, and water law with the Department of Ecology as a hydrogeologist, geographic information specialist, and part-time member of the agency’s Hazardous Materials Emergency Spill Response Team. Much of his work centers on Washington water law, helping landowners understand their opportunites, challenges, and obligations when using the state’s waters. More information on Dept. of Ecology Water Resources www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/wrhome.html Cynthia Krass joined the Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance in 2013 as the organization’s first executive director. During that time she has been instrumental in the establishment of the Snoqualmie Watershed Improvement District (SWID), who were recently awarded a grant from the WA State Department of Ecology to create a water bank for the valley bringing willing buyers and sellers together to lease water rights. Learn more about the SWID at www.svpa.us/watershed-improvement-district Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of non-compliance may be reported through your local Extension Office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Karie Christensen at 600 128th St SE, Everett, WA (425) 357-6039 christensen4@wsu.edu at least two weeks prior to the event. Sponsored by Snohomish Conservation District and WSU Snohomish County Extension, the evening will focus on water quality, quantity, and rights including: Will we have enough? Do you know your water rights? What’s a Water Improvement District? and Water quality – what you need to know as a farmer. Cost is $15 per person or $25 per farm or family up to three. To register, visit H2OResources.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit snohomish.wsu.edu/event/H2OResources or contact Holly Small, hollynthompson@wsu.edu or Kate Ryan (425) 357-6024, kate.ryan@wsu.edu.Registration