Ubits January/ February 2016
The drought’s effect on Alder Lake
GOING WITH THE FLOWS
Feb. 11 Delectable Desserts Bake sale in support of TPU’s Senior Assistance Fund
In this issue
Water and Power fight to protect fish during historic drought year When it comes to protecting fish, the 2015 drought was a story of priorities and sacrifice. Thanks to planning and coordinated reservoir and river flow management, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Power were able to fend off what could have been a catastrophic season for salmon, the consequences of which would have been felt for years to come. For Tacoma Water, managing the Green River involves a partnership between federal, state and local resource agencies, and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. The group, called the Green River Flow Management Committee, makes decisions about water flow, storage and release. “This was by far and away the most difficult year we’ve seen,” said Water Supply Manager Glen George.
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Q & A with Rail’s Dale King
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Early in the spring, the group addressed storing water — how much and when. “It started as a judgment call about how much water to capture,” said Tacoma Water Environmental Manager Greg Volkhardt. “This year, because of record low snowpack, all of the parties recognized that we would have to be very aggressive in what we captured.” Once the reservoir was full, the conversation turned to how to use that water. Pots of water were earmarked for different uses: drinking water, instream flow commitments and fish habitat. There was also some “flexible” water that was used for priority needs — generally fish — identified by the committee.
Community Connection
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Water’s Vulnerability Assessment