The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District invites the public to participate in FLOW (Frank Language about Our Water), a community discussion about long term planning around water rights and rates. Participants should attend one of the following three meetings:
*October 13 at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=290829245528)
*October 14 in the D Street Neighborhood Center in Arcata (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157061214280)
*October 22 at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174434956069&index=1 )
Meetings will run from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Each meeting features an overview of the water district's history and current situation and discussion of impacts, community values and decision-making criteria.
Two additional rounds of public meetings and an educational water workshop will be scheduled next year.
Over the next year, the plan is to develop criteria, generate options, and evaluate those options to assist the HBMWD board in developing broadly accepted and understood recommendations for long-term planning. Among the challenges: the closure of the pulp mills and the loss of their significant financial contribution to fixed costs; tens of millions of dollars of infrastructure needs anticipated over the next two decades; and state law that says the district may lose water it doesn't use.
Participants are encouraged to participate throughout the process. Background information and updates are available at http://www.hbmwd.com. Go to the bottom of the page and click on Water Resources Planning.
