MOSES LAKE - An opportunity to learn more about the upcoming dredging of Moses Lake is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight during "The Lake Forum."

The meeting is open to the public and at Big Bend Community College's Masto Conference Center, 7662 Chanute St. NE, Moses Lake.

Attendees can submit written questions about the dredging of 60 years worth of sediment from Moses Lake to a panel of industry experts and local officials. Dredging begins July 1.

Panel members include keynote speakers Vladimir Shepsis, of P.E. Coast & Harbor Engineering Inc., and Glen Grette, senior biologist and company principal of Grette Associates, Todd Palzer, of the state Department of Natural Resources, Jeff Korth, of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jeremy Ryf, of the state Department of Ecology, John O'Callaghan, of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Gil Alvarado, of the City of Moses Lake, and Curt Carpenter, of the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District.

Irrigation district board President Ron Covey said the district thought the best way to answer the public's questions was to have experts available to provide answers.

The forum is the first of four irrigation district forums. Each forum is designed to address different issues. 

The second forum is set for July 18 at Connelly Park, held in conjunction with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the dredge project. 

The third forum, in September, features the economics of the noxious weed milfoil, its impact on the community and mosquito issues. 

The fourth forum, in November, focuses on an overview of the lake's future.

The cost of the forums is covered by nine sponsors through donations of time, money or services. The sponsors are the irrigation district, Vision 2020, Moses Lake Business Association, Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, Big Bend Community College, Grant County Economic Development Council, Port of Moses Lake, Columbia Basin Herald and the City of Moses Lake.

Chamber Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez called the event an opportunity to educate the community about the dredging project and different components about the lake.

"It is one of our assets as far as tourism in concerned," she said.

The chamber's ambassadors are on hand to facilitate audience questions at tonight's forum.