MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District's dredge machine begins work Monday.

The district offers more about recreation and the environment during a community forum later that evening.

The public activities are featured during two separate events.

A dredge celebration starts at 2 p.m., at 892 E Broadway Extended, Moses Lake.

The forum is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Connelly Park, off state Route 17, west of the Grant County International Airport.

Ron Covey, the district's board president, describes the dredge event as a dedication and commencement ceremony for the project.

It started July 1 removing lake sediment.

Local and state officials are scheduled to attend the event.

After opening remarks and a special commencement ceremony, the dredge machine starts and sediment is pumped into a special holding pond.

Attendees can stand on the rim of the sedimentation pond and see how effective the dredge is, Covey said.

"I think they'll enjoy seeing how it works," he commented.

A question and answer period follows.

With about eight hours of operation, 1,600 cubic yards of sediment was removed Wednesday.

At 6 p.m., a community forum, titled "Recreation and the Environment" starts at Connelly Park.

The forum is designed as a hands-on type of an event, he said.

The event features a free barbecue dinner donated by area businesses, open swimming, hands-on displays and discussions with state, county and irrigation district staff about weed killing projects.

The connection between weeds and mosquitoes is also discussed.

"We feel it is very important that rate payers in the district be aware of how their money is being spent," Covey said. "It's their tax dollars we use to make all of these improvements to the lake. We want them to be aware of what's being done."

Before the irrigation district election two years ago, many people had no idea what the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District stood for, he said.

The event is geared toward families. Parents and kids can learn about water quality issues.

Attendees can also enter drawings to win free airboat rides and barge trips on Moses Lake.

To make reservations to both events, call 509-765-8716.