Is there a water shortage in the Quilcene-Snow watershed?
It depends who you ask. WRIA 17 boasts one of the fastest growing populations in the state. The current population of approximately 27,000 is expected to grow to between 29,935-38,197 residents by the year 2015. Much of WRIA 17 is located within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and 70% of our annual precipitation falls during the wet winter months from November to May (Watershed Management Plan for the Quilcene-Snow Water Resource inventory Area 17. October 2003).
The dry summer and early fall months are when humans require the most water for crops and lawn maintenance and also when federally-protected salmon require sufficient water levels in rivers so they can return to spawn.
The amount of annual precipitation varies dramatically throughout WRIA 17. For example, Quilcene receives 56 inches of precipitation annually while Port Townsend receives only 19 inches-just a few more inches than Los Angeles receives. Because most of the residents of WRIA 17 live in the drier parts, we’ve constructed a system of pipes and water storage reservoirs to move water from places and times of plenty to places and times of need.
Although this re-plumbing works for humans, it doesn’t work as well for fish.
Storing “excess” water flow during winter months and release it during dry summer months has some negative consequences we’re beginning to understand. For example, some salmon species depend on higher flows to reach smaller tributaries for spawning and rearing. High winter flows also serve a natural maintenance purpose, moving gravel and debris to keep the stream healthy.
So, do we have a water shortage? The answer is no if you consider only average annual precipitation for the entire region, but if you consider specific places and times during the year, there indeed may not always be enough water to meet current or future demand (“Is there a water shortage in the Quilcene-Snow watershed?” By Tom Anderson, HydroLogic Services Co. Published by the Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader on April 5, 2007.)