FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 1999

NWC Participates in NEEF Public Consultation Workshop

(Vanderhoof, BC) - The Nechako Watershed Council (NWC) participated in the recent Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund (NEEF) public consultations. At that meeting the NWC members supported their message: "The NWC believes that the NEEF Management Committee should focus the majority of its upcoming efforts on thoroughly investigating certain aspects of a water release facility at Kenney Dam".

During the two-day NEEF workshop council members participated in both group discussions and smaller breakout sessions. The NWC was pleased to see the high volume of public attendance and participation in all sessions. The priority for most attendees for enhancing the Nechako watershed was to create conditions which would allow the Nechako River to return to a more natural annual flow regime.

As Henry Klassen, NWC Chair, observed "It was a very good coming together of minds, people understanding each others issues, listening to each other’s issues and identifying where more work needs to be done."

The NWC had a brief but productive meeting on October 15, 1999. The council reviewed their publication "A Progress Report" which received widespread distribution via the watershed local newspapers on October 13 and 14. Members were pleased to report that residents of the watershed were already providing positive feedback.

The NWC will continue their efforts at their next meeting in Terrace on November 26 and 27.

For more information, please contact:

Henry Klassen, Chair

250-567-4254