Notes and Issues With San Juan County
Surface Storage Report
1) The report does not mention the documented natural salmon and
sea-run Cutthroat in Cascade Creek.
There is clear documentation of natural sea-run cutthroat, natural
salmon spawning, and salmon enhancement programs in a letter from Wa State Dept. Fish and Wildlife (pg 2) and a letter from Wa. State Dept. of
Ecology that no new water water rights would be issued in Cascade
Creek. Pictures and videos have been provided to the county health
department, the WRIA 2 watershed management committee, and the
commissioners. Fun pictures of the salmon in Cascade Creek can be found
at www.olgawater.com/salmon/salmon.html
A copy of natural spawning in Cascade Creek is available from Sandy
Taylor at:
or call 376 3815.
2) Double Counting the Flow Affected by the Rosario Diversion
When trying to estimate how much water is available in the Mountain
Lake watershed there are significant errors introduced by double
counting water into the Rosario diversion. Most of the year, the water
initially diverted leaks out ot the ditch back into the Cascade Creek
watershed before it reaches the point where the ditch discharges into a
small stream that flows into Cascade Lake. After the water returns to
Cascade Creek, it is counted again at the gauging station that measures
the flow in Cascade Creek in Olga. This double counting affects a huge
volume of water, probably more than 600 acre ft (twice what Eastsound
needs)
On Page 5 of the report, Table 2-2. "Average Monthly Discharge"
attempts to estimate how much water is available in the Mountain Lake
watershed. The flow in Cascade Creek was measured in Olga, well below
the Rosario diversion. The table is
based on the assumption that Rosario is diverting 100.0% of their water
right, 24 hours a day, every single day, without fail, and that none of
the water returns back to Cascade Creek. Photographs showing
that none of the water initially diverted actually made it to Cascade
Lake have been sent to the state Dept. of Ecology and to the county
health dept. in order to assist in getting the report by Montgomery
Water Group to more accurately reflect the real situation. The report
does contain the disclaimer: "Rosario numbers are based on rough weir
openings and have not been measured", however the the assumptions they
chose are not supported by these photos:
This is the Rosario diversion channel to Cascade Lake 10/27/2005.
(click on the image for more pictures)
3) "The two basins identified as having the potential to supply
additional water are the Purdue Lake basin and the Cascade Creek basin."
The report is too narrow and does not consider other options. There was
no point in considering Cascade Creek since it has been stated by two
state departments that this is not an option (See point #1 above).
4) other issues will be added as time allows.