Minutes

East Orcas Water Supply Planning

Orcas Senior Center

Organizational Meeting:  January 30, 2004

Staff:          Mark Tompkins, Vicki Heater, SJC Health and Community Services

Water Resource Management Committee: Ted Wixom, Bob Eagan, John

Ryberg

Introductions.  A list of participants and their affiliations is attached.

Vicki Heater explained the process of setting up the committee and reviewed potential outcomes for the planning process.  Members will be appointed by the next meeting.

The group proceeded to discuss issues and identify problems.  The problem statement (draft) is included.  Ed Sutton discussed EWUA’s needs.  Water rights equal approximately 1800 ERUs, their resource can provide roughly 1600 ERUs, they have 900 active ERUs, 300 inactive, and a waiting list for 300 more.  The projected growth for Eastsound is 2200 to 2400 ERUs.  Chris Vierthaler said Rosario is approved for 456 ERUs, with 350 active and 100 inactive.  Rosario’s buildout is 1000 ERUs.  They have adequate water rights, but their rights are tied to the level of Cascade Lake.

There was a lively discussion of possible outcomes, such as increasing storage capacity, sharing costs and resource management, develop a plan for local control and authority to manage the resource, assure that costs are kept affordable for consumers, assure protection of Cascade Lake and stream for recreation and habitat, have water systems not be paranoid but work together.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00.  Next meeting is February 24, 4:00 – 6:00.

Respectfully submitted

Vicki Heater

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