Fresh Water: How Can We Protect This Critical and Threatened Asset?

The subject of water has been appearing frequently in the news this year. In addition to the devastation caused by tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, and drought, a number of water-related issues have been on the County's agenda: stormwater runoff in Friday Harbor, the ongoing and often contentious dialog about how to protect wetlands and shorelines, as well as the County's consideration of allowing desalination plants as a primary water source for new homes in the islands, thus opening more waterfront and other critical areas for development that were previously limited by a lack of water. How well do we as citizens and voters understand these various issues and their importance? How can we better educate ourselves?

Here is some suggested reading as a starting point:

Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What To Do About It, by Robert Glennon
(He's the author mentioned in the email.)
Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilization, by Stephen Solomon
The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water, by Charles Fishman
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water, by Marc Reisner.

We can also stay up to date on proposed policy or legislative changes in the islands, and make our views known to our officials.

A group of Beach Watchers and other Lopez residents have started a discussion group titled: "Watersheds of the Puget Sound," (i.e. the Salish Sea,) that will meet weekly on Lopez until near the end of October. This online course is sponsored by WSU Extension, and is modeled after similar neighborhood-level study circles started by the Northwest Earth Institute. Members of the group will do about 20 pages of online reading during each week, and then meet to discuss the readings and consider what further study or actions they might want to pursue. Additional groups could be formed at any time in the islands - this website gives you all the information needed: http://county.wsu.edu/jefferson/nrs/water/courses/Pages/default.aspx Check it out, and consider forming your own group with neighbors and friends. It's both fun and informative.