In response to something that wasn't quite a request by a poster, the following is offered as a place to both UPDATE the river flows, and to COMMENT on said subject:
This morning, the rivers drop again, Elwha now at 519. Dungeness now at 172.
At this rate, the Elwha will be at 225 in two weeks. Then what?
Maybe a side column to put the flow rates in...I think it is incredibly important residents see how fast the rivers are drying up, so that they can plan accordingly. We sure are not hearing about in in the PDN. Or the City. Or Revitalize. Or anywhere else.
At this rate, the Elwha will be at 225 in two weeks. Then what?
Maybe a side column to put the flow rates in...I think it is incredibly important residents see how fast the rivers are drying up, so that they can plan accordingly. We sure are not hearing about in in the PDN. Or the City. Or Revitalize. Or anywhere else.
Thank you, CK. I hope people who understand how serious this situation is, will check in here.
ReplyDeleteThis morning the flow level was 519, down from yesterday's 525. By midday, it was 513. Two hours later, it is down to 506 cfs.
No, thank you for your steady stream of numbers. I just hope people will look at that drought map I posted above, and will note how there is a big brown spot right over the ONP that means, "drought persists/intensifies."
DeleteAnd that map is just for June. July, anyone? August?
At what point does Nippon get shut down? Two weeks? Maybe three?
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a long, hot summer.
With the old dams as reservoirs they could have kept some flow going for the fish below. Like two big water piggy banks for the rough times. Now without a water savings account the fish and wildlife don't have a chance. The legacy of Norm Dicks.
ReplyDeleteYes, he is a dick. Well named.
DeleteYeah - but the dams prevented the fish from reaching decent spawning habitat in the tributary streams. So the fish were screwed then, too.
DeleteI wonder what happens when the ocean begins to push saltwater up the dried out Elwha river beds?
ReplyDeleteNOAA's predictions don't look good through to next year. I don't know how accurate they are, but you can view hem here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/t.gif
When I worked at ITT Rayonier mill I'm positive we used more water per day than the city of Seattle, all from the Elwha. We ran the water through the treatment plant at the top of the hill. Always amazed me. Also I toured the Shine Pit by the floating bridge and about 100 feet below was an underground river that makes the Elwha look like a stream. Really amazing.
ReplyDeleteWill all of us complaining really sacrifice anything personally, conserve anything, drive less, use less energy or will we leave that part up to others or not at all?
ReplyDeleteThis was posted on Port O Call back in February. Twenty five people read it.
ReplyDeletehttp://portocallpublishing.com/2015/02/28/when-snow-is-a-no-show-by-diana-somerville/
It was also in the print edition but seems it got no traction--until now.
So, as noted above, POC was on this back in February...This blog has been talking about it for what seems like forever now...And the Port Angeles City Council will be hearing about it, and "potential voluntary water restrictions," next Tuesday...
Delete"Port Angeles City Council members will hear an update on the impact of the drought on the city water system when they meet Tuesday.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles.
It will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. executive session to discuss potential litigation, after which no action is planned.
During the regular meeting, Craig Fulton, city public works and utilities director, will tell of potential voluntary water restrictions that could be applied later this year and give an overview of the city water system, including storage capacities.
The council will consider approving the capital facilities plan and transportation improvement plan, as well as a change order for the combined sewer overflow project."
Imagine if the City hadn't wasted tens of millions of dollars on the stupid, unnecessary, doesn't-solve-anything CSO Turd Tank. Imagine if instead they had spent, say half that money on building a new reservoir or two.
Just imagine.
Glad to see the city recognizes there is a problem.
Delete" Craig Fulton, city public works and utilities director, will tell of potential voluntary water restrictions that could be applied later this year."
This WILL be interesting. By the time they have their next council meeting, Nippon could be shut down, or close to it. Remember the "financial shockwave" to the city's tax revenue when Nippon shut down one of it's machines last year?
It is all just "mis-information", don't ya know? Everything is really just fine. Nothing to see here. Move along.
And spend ever more on the Turd Tank system.
Yes, as Anonymous 9:23 AM points out, a hit to Nippon is, unfortunately (and stupidly) a hit to the City budget. The City budgets based on a fully-operating, full-time Nippon plant - a plant from which they get utility taxes. When the plant is idle, the tax dollars coming in drop, and the City budget is, immediately and seriously, out of balance.
DeleteSo, with the convoluted and dishonest (and stupid) way the City budgets, a cut to the water supply likely also means a very real cut to the services (such as they are) that the City provides.
Conservation when the city can still pull from the river only soothes the guilt-ridden because it will simply flow by if unpumped. If we had storage in reservoirs, conservation would serve a purpose and serve to stretch the supply.
ReplyDeleteAs of midday today, the Elwha was at 500 cfs. And the Dungeness down to 162.
ReplyDeleteWhere will it be when Mr. Fulton tells the council about "voluntary water restrictions"?
By 4:30, the Elwha has dropped to 494 cfs. The Dungeness to 157.
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
As always, thank you so much for your updates.
DeleteFrom the City of Port Angeles:
ReplyDelete" Seasonal Water Usage Program.
Get the most from your yard and gardens: Manage your water use and "green up" your home this summer!"
In tune with what is going on, as always!
I wrote to the Port Angeles City council members, the City Manager and the Public Works Director, asking what the plan is for residents, when the water in the river dries up.
ReplyDeleteNot one of them had the courtesy to reply, in any form. Not a word.
Do they think it isn't important?
That residents don't deserve a response to a serious question?
That it isn't their responsibility?
What do they think they are there for?
City says "No problems".
ReplyDeleteElwha drops to 488 cfs.