Minutes

East Orcas Water Supply Planning

Orcas Senior Center

Meeting of

February 24, 2004

Members attending:       Shawn Alexander, John Ryberg, Chris Vierthaler, Ed Sutton, Sandy Taylor, Dick Arnold, Bob Eagan, Tom Berg, Rolf Nedelmann, Beth Jenkins, Dan Gottleib, Mark Sawyer, Dennis Flowers

Others:        Ted Wixom, Crystal Taylor

Staff:                    Vicki Heater, SJCHCS

Election of chair.  John Ryberg, Rolf Nedelman, Ed Sutton, Dave Russilo, and Bob Eagan were recommended as nominations.  Ed and Bob declined.  Discussion followed and it was decided to table this issue for the next meeting.

Operating rules.  The draft Operating Rules were adopted unanimously with the clarification that the East Orcas Water Supply Committee is a subcommittee of the county Water Resources Management Committee.

Bob Eagan raised a question about build-out ERUs for Eastsound.  Discussion followed about the numbers for build-out and capacity of Eastsound’s sources and the need to quantify what’s needed and identify limits.  A table for all the water systems for eastern Orcas should be developed for this planning, including treatment capacity, water rights, source capacity.

 East Orcas Water Supply Planning Committee Minutes of 2-24-04 Meeting

Draft problem statement.  Ed Sutton handed out an alternative version of the problem statement.

Bob asked about the comment that Rosario’s water rights were tied to the level of Cascade Lake.  Chris confirmed that they check the level of the lake monthly when they read their meters.  Dennis commented that sometimes the lake level is too high and erodes trails.  Sandy asked about the name of the committee, and whether watershed or water supply is the focus.  He asked that instream flow needs be included in the problem statement.  Chris commented on the need to store more water.  She said that one million gallons a day are lost over the dam at Cascade Lake (in winter).  Discussion of well drilling followed.  Mark Sawyer commented that wells drilled outside of the Eastsound aquifer are not a problem.  Bob commented that people rush to drill wells because they don’t know when service will be available from Eastsound.

The committee recommended specific changes to the draft problem statement(s) and asked for specific numbers to quantify the problems facing Eastsound and Rosario.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00.  Next meeting is April 6, 2004, 4:00-6:00.  Orcas Senior Center.

Respectfully submitted

Vicki Heater

Orcas Island Watershed Planning