EatonvilleNews

More Info From Kathy Linnemeyer

The information below is from the Water Conservation Coalition:

Why Conserve Water?

People wonder why we need to conserve water in the rainy Pacific Northwest. The fact is, we're not the wettest place in the country. We receive less precipitation than New York and Boston. Plus, our growing population is draining existing water supplies. Look at the rain chart below. As our precipitation drops during the summer water use skyrockets.

The Reasons for Water Conservation

The reasons for water conservation may seem obvious, but they are often intricate. Water conservation influences many processes and events in our lives that we seldom think about. Saving water is a good thing to do today and every day. It helps preserve the environment for future generations, for wildlife, and for us. You can likely come up with more reasons too.
The paragraphs below provide a sound basis of information to further your knowledge of water conservation and preservation principles.

A Finite Supply

Around Puget Sound, you don't need to go very far before running into a source of water. However, our supply of clean drinking water is limited. Taking actions to use this precious resource wisely will ensure that we all have enough fresh drinking water for ourselves and future generations.

Water for People, Salmon, and Other Creatures

In local rivers, lakes and streams, over 60 animal species rely on water to sustain life. With some wild salmon species now listed as Endangered, it is important for each of us to take steps to ensure their survival. Water conservation helps achieve that goal by reducing the needs of people so they compete less with the needs of fish and wildlife.

Supply vs. Demand: A Growing Population

In our region, it rains much more in the fall, winter, and spring than it does in the summer. People use water in the summer for activities such as watering the lawn/garden and washing the car. Every year, planning takes lace to ensure that the amount of melting snow and water in the watersheds will be sufficient to meet water needs until the rains return in the fall. Year-round conservation helps guarantee there will be enough water for everyone, all year long.

Just How Safe is Our Drinking Water?

     by Dixie A. Walter
     May 5, 2003

     During a lengthy discussion, April 27, by the State Department of Health Regional Representative, John Ryding, and the Eatonville Town Council concerning the seemingly endless water problems, the following discourse took place.

Councilman Ray Harper asked, “Do you feel our water is safe right now?”

Ryding’s long pause before answering spoke volumes. After about ten seconds he replied, “I don’t.”

     Ryding is an engineer with DOH and works with NW Drinking Water Operations. He explained, “You know, that’s a very difficult question to answer when I’m asked ‘is the water safe.’ Your water doesn’t meet treatment requirements. And the types of disease causing organisms are not really susceptible to disinfection.
     “I’m not always present in your watershed, they [organisms] tend to be there as a storm related event, as an animal or livestock related event. Things like giardia and cryptosperidium are not treated very well with chlorine. Cyptosperidium in particular.
     “You’re taking the best measures that you can right now to keep your water as drinkable as possible. But there is a certain amount of risk associated with drinking it. And that’s what you’re doing. You’re notifying people that there is a risk associated with it.
     “From day to day it may be very safe. But I don’t think there’s any guarantee that you can say with a hundred percent certainty that it’s that way every day. These organisms are very difficult to detect and very expensive to detect. And there’s no flashing lights or anything that you can tell that this is happening.
      “It’s kind of like a thief in the night. These things can come in a day or two, and they may be gone in a day or two. If they get into your system they can cause a lot of damage to people who are susceptible to this type of thing. If you’re immune deficient, if you’re already ill, if you’re elderly, if you’re very young, you tend to be more susceptible to this. That’s what we’re working toward trying to solve.”

Dangerous "Bugs"

"Canine Canada" reported the deaths of three people in North Battleford, Canada and 46 others who became ill after cryptosperidium infected the public water supply in 2001. The following information is from Suburban Water Technology, Inc.

Cryptosperidium and Giardia

These organisms are a danger to public water supplies because they are highly resistant to chlorination. They are, however, large in comparison to other microbes. There are good carbon block filters that are rated for the removal of cryptosperidium and giardia as well as chlorine and by-products of chlorination. A drinking water filter of this type is highly recommended on any public water supply.

Ohop Grange To Host Free Ohop Creek Restoration Workshops

Press Release
May 12, 2003

     EATONVILLE – The Pierce Conservation District, the Ohop Grange, Citizens Reclaiming the Ohop Watershed (CROW) and the Nisqually Indian Tribe will be holding a three-part workshop on the history of the valley and restoration of Ohop Creek beginning Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. The workshops will cover a range of topics regarding salmon restoration on Ohop Creek including the history of the valley’s habitat, the salmon life cycle, and current and possible future restoration efforts. Local citizens will be encouraged to briefly share their memories of the creek and salmon. The workshop will culminate with a field trip exploring the Ohop Valley on Saturday, May 31.
     “This is a great opportunity to learn more about salmon and to get involved in the protection and restoration of Ohop Creek,” said Jayme Gordan, coordinator for the District’s Stream Team. The Pierce Conservation District, in cooperation with the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, has been working with local landowners during the last few months to develop a habitat restoration plan for Ohop Creek. “The people who are going to be affected the most by salmon restoration on Ohop Creek are the ones that are going to decide what restoration will look like,” said Gordan. Restoring habitat in the valley will benefit the watershed as a whole.
     The upcoming three-part workshop is the next step in the process of writing the restoration plan. “There are a number of different ways habitat can be restored in Ohop Creek,” said Ann Marie Finan , Nisqually Stream Stewards Coordinator for the Tribe. “While the people who live along the creek need to fully understand the choices they’re making these workshops will be of interest to everyone who lives in the watershed. Ohop Creek, people and salmon play major roles in the basin’s heritage and I’ve seen a large interest from the people in protecting and restoring that heritage.”

What: Ohop Creek Restoration Workshops and Fieldtrip

When: Thursday, May 22, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. : History of the Valley and Salmon

Thursday, May 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: What is Being Done Now & How You can get Involved

Fieldtrip: Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. : Points of Interest and Restoration Sites

Where: Workshops: The Ohop Grange

41608 Mountain Hwy E , Eatonville

Fieldtrip: meet at the Ohop Grange

For more information, contact: Jayme Gordan, Pierce Conservation District, (253) 845-2973. Ann Marie Finan , Salmon Recovery Volunteer Coordinator, Nisqually Indian Tribe, (360) 438-8687, afinan@nwifc.org.

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Recent heavy rains have resulted in significantly more water flow in the Nisqually, Mashell and Little Mashell Rivers, as the upland slopes and valleys gradually release some of the rain- and snowfall they’ve received. Alder Lake, a reservoir normally covering a huge area above Alder Dam, and fed by the Nisqually River Watershed, is also beginning to rise again. But just as was the case three years ago, another unusually dry fall has left Alder Lake, well, lacking. This view, taken Jan. 5, 2003, shows the water level not much higher than a month ago. It will take far more precipitation and runoff to get the lake up to its highest levels. Among other things, the drought affects power generation, as well as the fish and wildlife that depend on the lake habitat. Related Photos (photos by Bob Walter)

Photo on the left taken December 8, 2002; photo on the right taken January 5, 2003

The waters of Alder Lake continue to creep upward, as this photo from January 5, 2003 shows.

                                    Taken December 8, 2002, this photograph shows the vestiges of water
                              in Alder Lake. Residents say the lake, reservoir for Alder Dam, is the even
                              lower than the winter of 2000.

                                   The Road to Nowhere usually lies hidden by miles of water at Alder Lake.
                             This photograph was taken in January 2000. At that time long-time residents of
                             Alder and experienced employees of Alder Dam said the lake was at a record low.

    Would you spend $100 for a glass of water? Some 49ers on the California Trail did.Because of poor planning, many western-bound 49ers were unprepared for the hot, dry deserts of Nevada. A few sharp businessmen in California knew this and took advantage of the situation. They traveled eastward with barrels of water.
      Extremely thirsty, many 49ers paid $1, $5, even $100 for a glass of precious water. But water was not the only expensive item on the Oregon-California Trail. For example, at the start of the journey, flour could be purchased for $4.00 a barrel, but further along the price rose to a sky-high $1.00 per pint. Other staples could also be quite expensive:

      Sugar $1.50 per pint
      Coffee $1.00 per pint
      Liquor $4.00 per pint

    Surprisingly, there were other staples that were amazingly cheap. For example, at Ft. Laramie, bacon could be had for a penny per pound. Those who had excess bacon often considered it worthless and dumped it by the side of the road. One emigrant reported seeing ten tons on one pile.
     Why the wide disparity in prices? The basic laws of supply and demand were at work. Most wagon trains took too much bacon and so it had little trading value. Water, on the other hand was in short supply and thus commanded a high price.

      (From Mind Haven Website)

   Water has many purposes throughout the world, aside from human consumption and purposes related to that.   With 70 percent of the earth's surface covered with water, it makes water the most common substance on earth. There are 326 million cubic miles of water on earth. Without water, there could be no life. Every living thing needs water to live, and every living thing is made of at least some water. For example, a chicken is about three-fourths water, and a pineapple is about four-fifths water. And as much as it is a part of each living thing, it has many uses inside and outside the home. It can irrigate dry farmlands in order to grow crops. (The United States uses 100 billion gallons of water for irrigation of crops per day.)
      We can cook with it, bathe with it, and use it to carry away wastes. On average, a human uses 70 gallons of water per day. Water is very necessary to human life, and that fact is reinforced by the fact that humans take in over 16,000 gallons of water during their lifetimes, with an average of 2.5 quarts per day. Water carries out life processes in everything, carrying out biological reactions and aiding with digestion of other nutrients. The world's demand for water is constantly increasing, with no end in sight. Experts speculate that by the year 2000, the world s need for water will double from what it was in the 1980s. And since only 3 percent of the water on earth is freshwater, and 97 percent of the water is trapped in glaciers, most of the water on earth is not easily available.

     (From Mind Haven Website)

      February 22 is your last chance to throw salmon carcasses according to a press release from the Nisqually Stream Stewards. This is the last carcass fling of the 2002-2003 season. The dead salmon are from the Nisqually Indian Tribe's salmon hatchery. "In the fall, Chinook and Coho salmon return to the hatchery where workers spawn the fish then freeze some of the carcasses until they can be transported to local streams." Volunteers are needed for this family activity.
        The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife reports more than 137 species depend on salmon to survive. After spawning salmon die. Decaying salmon are a critical link in the food chain. Because salmon runs have declined drastically many streams and rivers lack this vital food source.
       Carcass tossing will be held in "streams and rivers around Eatonville" from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information call Ann Marie Finan - 360.438.868 or email - afinan@nwifc.org.
      Please see Welcome To Saving Our Salmon for more salmon facts, quizzes. games and other links

   In a Nov. 21, 2002 press release the University of Washington states, "People living in the Pacific Northwest will likely face a difficult choice in coming decades as global warning alters the region's climate - they can have water for hydroelectric power or water for salmon runs, but not both."
    UW joined with a consortium which includes Pacific National Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography to compile the "most rigorous" study to date of water conditions in the west The study was conducted by the Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative and focused on three major hydrologic basins, one of which is the Colombia River.
     People living in the Pacific Northwest will likely face a difficult choice in coming decades as global warming alters the region's climate - they can have water for hydroelectric power or water for salmon runs, but not both.
     That's one conclusion of a new study, the most rigorous to date of potential impacts on water issues in the Western United States during the next 50 years as greenhouse warming begins to heat up the planet.
     "The choices are rather stark," according to Dennis Lettenmaier, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington and one of the researchers contributing to the study. "We asked the question, 'Could you mitigate the effects by operating the reservoir system differently?' And the answer, at least in terms of the fish, is probably not."
     The study looks at the implications of climate impact as it relates to water resources in three major hydrologic basins in the western United States: the Columbia River; California's Central Valley, which includes the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers; and the Colorado River. The work was conducted by the Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative, a consortium of a number of agencies, including the UW, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
      In part it warns, "Along the Columbia River basin, the major issue isn't changes in the amount of precipitation. It has more to do with a receding snowpack, which will reduce natural water storage and affect when water is available. The model predicts that, by mid-century, the yearly average snowpack in the Washington and Oregon Cascades could be reduced by as much as 50 percent. That would result in big changes in water flows and temperatures in Cascade rivers and streams."
      In fact, the window for successful salmon reproduction in the Pacific Northwest may become so shortened by climate change that some species could cease to exist regardless of what water policies are adopted.

November 26, 2002
After hearing an *appeal by local resident Pat Van Eaton, the Eatonville Town Council voted unanimously to give Rowland Litzenberger permission to develop a 1.31 acre lot for building a 100 unit "mini-warehouse." The property is in the 600 block of Center St. E, and northwest of the Mashell River.
Council member Mike Gallagher, a former planning commissioner, recused (removed) himself from the proceedings because he had a conflict of interest. Chelan Van Eaton Jarrett did not recuse herself and stayed at the table.



	The Water Front More Info From Kathy Linnemeyer The information below is from the Water Conservation Coalition: Why Conserve Water? People wonder why we need to conserve water in the rainy Pacific Northwest. The fact is, we're not the wettest place in the country. We receive less precipitation than New York and Boston. Plus, our growing population is draining existing water supplies. Look at the rain chart below. As our precipitation drops during the summer water use skyrockets. *The Reasons for Water Conservation* The reasons for water conservation may seem obvious, but they are often intricate. Water conservation influences many processes and events in our lives that we seldom think about. Saving water is a good thing to do today and every day. It helps preserve the environment for future generations, for wildlife, and for us. You can likely come up with more reasons too. The paragraphs below provide a sound basis of information to further your knowledge of water conservation and preservation principles. *A Finite Supply* Around Puget Sound, you don't need to go very far before running into a source of water. However, our supply of clean drinking water is limited. Taking actions to use this precious resource wisely will ensure that we all have enough fresh drinking water for ourselves and future generations. *Water for People, Salmon, and Other Creatures* In local rivers, lakes and streams, over 60 animal species rely on water to sustain life. With some wild salmon species now listed as Endangered, it is important for each of us to take steps to ensure their survival. Water conservation helps achieve that goal by reducing the needs of people so they compete less with the needs of fish and wildlife. *Supply vs. Demand: A Growing Population* In our region, it rains much more in the fall, winter, and spring than it does in the summer. People use water in the summer for activities such as watering the lawn/garden and washing the car. Every year, planning takes lace to ensure that the amount of melting snow and water in the watersheds will be sufficient to meet water needs until the rains return in the fall. Year-round conservation helps guarantee there will be enough water for everyone, all year long. Just How Safe is Our Drinking Water? by Dixie A. Walter May 5, 2003 During a lengthy discussion, April 27, by the State Department of Health Regional Representative, John Ryding, and the Eatonville Town Council concerning the seemingly endless water problems, the following discourse took place. Councilman Ray Harper asked, “Do you feel our water is safe right now?” Ryding’s long pause before answering spoke volumes. After about ten seconds he replied, “I don’t.” Ryding is an engineer with DOH and works with NW Drinking Water Operations. He explained, “You know, that’s a very difficult question to answer when I’m asked ‘is the water safe.’ Your water doesn’t meet treatment requirements. And the types of disease causing organisms are not really susceptible to disinfection. “I’m not always present in your watershed, they [organisms] tend to be there as a storm related event, as an animal or livestock related event. Things like giardia and cryptosperidium are not treated very well with chlorine. Cyptosperidium in particular. “You’re taking the best measures that you can right now to keep your water as drinkable as possible. But there is a certain amount of risk associated with drinking it. And that’s what you’re doing. You’re notifying people that there is a risk associated with it. “From day to day it may be very safe. But I don’t think there’s any guarantee that you can say with a hundred percent certainty that it’s that way every day. These organisms are very difficult to detect and very expensive to detect. And there’s no flashing lights or anything that you can tell that this is happening. “It’s kind of like a thief in the night. These things can come in a day or two, and they may be gone in a day or two. If they get into your system they can cause a lot of damage to people who are susceptible to this type of thing. If you’re immune deficient, if you’re already ill, if you’re elderly, if you’re very young, you tend to be more susceptible to this. That’s what we’re working toward trying to solve.” Dangerous "Bugs" "Canine Canada" reported the deaths of three people in North Battleford, Canada and 46 others who became ill after cryptosperidium infected the public water supply in 2001. The following information is from Suburban Water Technology, Inc. *Cryptosperidium and Giardia* These organisms are a danger to public water supplies because they are highly resistant to chlorination. They are, however, large in comparison to other microbes. There are good carbon block filters that are rated for the removal of cryptosperidium and giardia as well as chlorine and by-products of chlorination. A drinking water filter of this type is highly recommended on any public water supply. Ohop Grange To Host Free Ohop Creek Restoration Workshops Press Release May 12, 2003 EATONVILLE – The Pierce Conservation District, the Ohop Grange, Citizens Reclaiming the Ohop Watershed (CROW) and the Nisqually Indian Tribe will be holding a three-part workshop on the history of the valley and restoration of Ohop Creek beginning Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. The workshops will cover a range of topics regarding salmon restoration on Ohop Creek including the history of the valley’s habitat, the salmon life cycle, and current and possible future restoration efforts. Local citizens will be encouraged to briefly share their memories of the creek and salmon. The workshop will culminate with a field trip exploring the Ohop Valley on Saturday, May 31. “This is a great opportunity to learn more about salmon and to get involved in the protection and restoration of Ohop Creek,” said Jayme Gordan, coordinator for the District’s Stream Team. The Pierce Conservation District, in cooperation with the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, has been working with local landowners during the last few months to develop a habitat restoration plan for Ohop Creek. “The people who are going to be affected the most by salmon restoration on Ohop Creek are the ones that are going to decide what restoration will look like,” said Gordan. Restoring habitat in the valley will benefit the watershed as a whole. The upcoming three-part workshop is the next step in the process of writing the restoration plan. “There are a number of different ways habitat can be restored in Ohop Creek,” said Ann Marie Finan , Nisqually Stream Stewards Coordinator for the Tribe. “While the people who live along the creek need to fully understand the choices they’re making these workshops will be of interest to everyone who lives in the watershed. Ohop Creek, people and salmon play major roles in the basin’s heritage and I’ve seen a large interest from the people in protecting and restoring that heritage.” What: *Ohop Creek Restoration Workshops and Fieldtrip* When: Thursday, May 22, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. : History of the Valley and Salmon *Thursday, May 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: What is Being Done Now & How You can get Involved* *Fieldtrip: Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. : Points of Interest and Restoration Sites* Where: *Workshops: The Ohop Grange* 41608 Mountain Hwy E *, Eatonville* *Fieldtrip: meet at the Ohop Grange* For more information, contact: Jayme Gordan, Pierce Conservation District, (253) 845-2973. Ann Marie Finan , Salmon Recovery Volunteer Coordinator, Nisqually Indian Tribe, (360) 438-8687, afinan@nwifc.org. Back to Top Back to Front Page Is Water Rationing in Our Future? *Snow on the Mountain, Rain in the Rivers* *Is Drought Relief on the Way?* Recent heavy rains have resulted in significantly more water flow in the Nisqually, Mashell and Little Mashell Rivers, as the upland slopes and valleys gradually release some of the rain- and snowfall they’ve received. Alder Lake, a reservoir normally covering a huge area above Alder Dam, and fed by the Nisqually River Watershed, is also beginning to rise again. But just as was the case three years ago, another unusually dry fall has left Alder Lake, well, lacking. This view, taken Jan. 5, 2003, shows the water level not much higher than a month ago. It will take far more precipitation and runoff to get the lake up to its highest levels. Among other things, the drought affects power generation, as well as the fish and wildlife that depend on the lake habitat. Related Photos (photos by Bob Walter) Photo on the left taken December 8, 2002; photo on the right taken January 5, 2003 *Not Quite as Empty, But Almost* The waters of Alder Lake continue to creep upward, as this photo from January 5, 2003 shows. *"Empty, Empty, Empty" Alder Lake* Now... (photo by Bob Walter) Taken December 8, 2002, this photograph shows the vestiges of water in Alder Lake. Residents say the lake, reservoir for Alder Dam, is the even lower than the winter of 2000. and Then... (photo by Bobbi Allison) The Road to Nowhere usually lies hidden by miles of water at Alder Lake. This photograph was taken in January 2000. At that time long-time residents of Alder and experienced employees of Alder Dam said the lake was at a record low. *The $100 Drink of Water* Would you spend $100 for a glass of water? Some 49ers on the California Trail did.Because of poor planning, many western-bound 49ers were unprepared for the hot, dry deserts of Nevada. A few sharp businessmen in California knew this and took advantage of the situation. They traveled eastward with barrels of water. Extremely thirsty, many 49ers paid $1, $5, even $100 for a glass of precious water. But water was not the only expensive item on the Oregon-California Trail. For example, at the start of the journey, flour could be purchased for $4.00 a barrel, but further along the price rose to a sky-high $1.00 per pint. Other staples could also be quite expensive: Sugar $1.50 per pint Coffee $1.00 per pint Liquor $4.00 per pint Surprisingly, there were other staples that were amazingly cheap. For example, at Ft. Laramie, bacon could be had for a penny per pound. Those who had excess bacon often considered it worthless and dumped it by the side of the road. One emigrant reported seeing ten tons on one pile. Why the wide disparity in prices? The basic laws of supply and demand were at work. Most wagon trains took too much bacon and so it had little trading value. Water, on the other hand was in short supply and thus commanded a high price. (From Mind Haven Website) *Water, the Stuff of Life* Water has many purposes throughout the world, aside from human consumption and purposes related to that. With 70 percent of the earth's surface covered with water, it makes water the most common substance on earth. There are 326 million cubic miles of water on earth. Without water, there could be no life. Every living thing needs water to live, and every living thing is made of at least some water. For example, a chicken is about three-fourths water, and a pineapple is about four-fifths water. And as much as it is a part of each living thing, it has many uses inside and outside the home. It can irrigate dry farmlands in order to grow crops. (The United States uses 100 billion gallons of water for irrigation of crops per day.) We can cook with it, bathe with it, and use it to carry away wastes. On average, a human uses 70 gallons of water per day. Water is very necessary to human life, and that fact is reinforced by the fact that humans take in over 16,000 gallons of water during their lifetimes, with an average of 2.5 quarts per day. Water carries out life processes in everything, carrying out biological reactions and aiding with digestion of other nutrients. The world's demand for water is constantly increasing, with no end in sight. Experts speculate that by the year 2000, the world s need for water will double from what it was in the 1980s. And since only 3 percent of the water on earth is freshwater, and 97 percent of the water is trapped in glaciers, most of the water on earth is not easily available. (From Mind Haven Website) February 19, 2003 Help Keep Salmon Alive Toss Dead Ones in Local Waters February 22 is your last chance to throw salmon carcasses according to a press release from the Nisqually Stream Stewards. This is the last carcass fling of the 2002-2003 season. The dead salmon are from the Nisqually Indian Tribe's salmon hatchery. "In the fall, Chinook and Coho salmon return to the hatchery where workers spawn the fish then freeze some of the carcasses until they can be transported to local streams." Volunteers are needed for this family activity. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife reports more than 137 species depend on salmon to survive. After spawning salmon die. Decaying salmon are a critical link in the food chain. Because salmon runs have declined drastically many streams and rivers lack this vital food source. Carcass tossing will be held in "streams and rivers around Eatonville" from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information call Ann Marie Finan - 360.438.868 or email - afinan@nwifc.org. Please see Welcome To Saving Our Salmon for more salmon facts, quizzes. games and other links . Say Goodbye? In a Nov. 21, 2002 press release the University of Washington states, "People living in the Pacific Northwest will likely face a difficult choice in coming decades as global warning alters the region's climate - they can have water for hydroelectric power or water for salmon runs, but not both." UW joined with a consortium which includes Pacific National Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography to compile the "most rigorous" study to date of water conditions in the west The study was conducted by the Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative and focused on three major hydrologic basins, one of which is the Colombia River. People living in the Pacific Northwest will likely face a difficult choice in coming decades as global warming alters the region's climate - they can have water for hydroelectric power or water for salmon runs, but not both. That's one conclusion of a new study, the most rigorous to date of potential impacts on water issues in the Western United States during the next 50 years as greenhouse warming begins to heat up the planet. "The choices are rather stark," according to Dennis Lettenmaier, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington and one of the researchers contributing to the study. "We asked the question, 'Could you mitigate the effects by operating the reservoir system differently?' And the answer, at least in terms of the fish, is probably not." The study looks at the implications of climate impact as it relates to water resources in three major hydrologic basins in the western United States: the Columbia River; California's Central Valley, which includes the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers; and the Colorado River. The work was conducted by the Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative, a consortium of a number of agencies, including the UW, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In part it warns, "Along the Columbia River basin, the major issue isn't changes in the amount of precipitation. It has more to do with a receding snowpack, which will reduce natural water storage and affect when water is available. The model predicts that, by mid-century, the yearly average snowpack in the Washington and Oregon Cascades could be reduced by as much as 50 percent. That would result in big changes in water flows and temperatures in Cascade rivers and streams." In fact, the window for successful salmon reproduction in the Pacific Northwest may become so shortened by climate change that some species could cease to exist regardless of what water policies are adopted. Appeal B Update November 26, 2002 *After hearing an appeal by local resident Pat Van Eaton, the Eatonville Town Council voted unanimously to give Rowland Litzenberger permission to develop a 1.31 acre lot for building a 100 unit "mini-warehouse." The property is in the 600 block of Center St. E, and northwest of the Mashell River. Council member Mike Gallagher,** a former planning commissioner, recused (removed) himself from the proceedings because he had a conflict of interest. Chelan Van Eaton Jarrett did not recuse herself and stayed at the table. Back to Top Back to The Water Front Pg. 1 Back to Front Page		"If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water." ~Loren Eisley "Wetlands have a poor public image...Yet they are among the earth's greatest natural assets...mankind's waterlogged wealth." ~Edward Maltby "Life originated in the sea, and about eighty percent of it is still there." ~ISAAC ASIMOV





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