'Global warming-like' conditions prompt Sims to lay out

2005 Archived News

With scant snowpack in the mountains and record low flows projected for local streams, King County Executive Ron Sims today outlined the county's own water-saving plans in the event a drought emergency is announced, and said today's dry conditions underscore the need for collaborative region-wide water supply planning.

'We must be prudent and deliberate in planning for our water for the future. We must protect our people and our economy from water shortages by knowing our need, our suppliers and delivery systems. This is our regional role,' Sims said. 'The specter of this unusually dry year ought to give everyone a reality check about the water supply problems global warming will bring for people and for fish, and a better awareness about the necessity for immediate and comprehensive regional water supply planning.'

Before embarking on a view trip today to witness first hand how dry conditions in 2005 are affecting the Cascade Mountains and King County watersheds, Sims said legislation he will deliver to the County Council this week will formally initiate a county-wide water supply planning process that King County and the Cascade Water Alliance (Cascade) formally agreed last month to pursue.

Flanked by scientists, water supply specialists, city and utility representatives, and County Councilmembers, Sims said this year's dangerously dry conditions foreshadow what the region can expect when global warming makes its presence felt in the coming years. He pointed to a University of Washington Climate Impacts Group study that predicts the loss of 59 percent of our average snow pack by the year 2050, 'which means impacts to our entire ecosystem – everything from our drinking water supply, to the size and frequency of flooding, to stream flows at critical times for fish.'

Scott Pattee, water supply specialist for the federal Natural Resources Conservation District, said snowpack readings across the state are at near record lows. The most recent snow survey for the Green River Basin shows it is carrying only 4 percent of its normal average, the lowest in the state. The Snoqualmie River Basin was at 25 percent.

Pattee said stream flow forecasts for the Cedar River Basin are 45 to 50 percent of average for April through September. NRCS is forecasting new record lows for the South Fork Tolt River (56 percent of average) and Rex River near Cedar Falls (46 percent of average).

Sims said this year's 'global warming-like' conditions underscore why King County is collaborating with Cascade – and hopefully all major utilities in King County – to develop a water supply plan as a critical step in meeting growing challenges to the area's drinking water supply, environment, population and economy. Details for developing the plan are embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on February 8 by Sims and Cascade Board Chair Grant Degginger.

The Cascade Water Alliance is a group of eight local governments and special purpose districts that joined together to provide water supply, and plan ahead to develop additional water supply to meet the needs of growing populations while maintaining sufficient water levels for fish. Members include the City of Bellevue, Covington Water District, City of Issaquah, City of Kirkland, City of Redmond, Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District, Skyway Water & Sewer District and the City of Tukwila.

"The Cascade Water Alliance is dedicated to providing the communities it serves with a reliable water supply for generations to come and to do so in a manner that respects and enhances our region's natural resources," Degginger said. "Water is an essential ingredient of our regional infrastructure. The partnership envisioned by this MOU will help ensure that Cascade and King County will work together toward common goals of enhancing both water supply and environmental stewardship."

The February MOU commits King County and Cascade to initiate a planning process by March 31 that will include:
• Clearly defining the region's long-term water needs – both instream and out of stream – factoring in prudent water conservation and demand management practices;
• Prioritizing future water supplies to meet such needs, including alternative sources such as reclaimed water, 'a drought-proof source that will be available in large quantities from the regional Brightwater treatment plant starting in 2010,' Sims said;
• Identifying new water supply and required infrastructure needs, and who is responsible for making them happen;
• Collaboratively planning for times of drought and water shortage, such as what the region is facing in 2005; and
• Establishing policy guidelines for processing water rights applications and for other water resource management decisions at the state and federal levels.

'King County and the region are within months of handing federal agencies groundbreaking salmon recovery plans,' said Sims. 'This great work will only succeed if we do the right thing in managing our water, through everyday decisions we make. This includes decisions about watering our lawns or washing our cars, and in how we tackle major regional and national challenges like global warming that drive the habitat conditions for a cultural and economic icon like salmon.'

Sims also said the persisting dry conditions may soon trigger King County's Drought Response Plan, which outlines dozens of actions the county can take to save water depending on the severity of drought conditions. Actions could include things like cutting back landscape watering and fleet vehicle washing. In 2001, the last time a statewide drought was declared, King County saved more than 19 million gallons of water and $50,000 by reducing discretionary water use on things like landscaping. Sims said he has asked his staff to update and revise the 2001 plan, and be prepared to initiate it promptly.

'Of course we will look to the state and local utilities for cooperative and consistent guidance on any drought announcements for our region, but we are already identifying specific water-saving actions we will take in the event a drought is announced,' Sims said. 'I want to ensure that King County is prepared to lead by example by acting quickly and aggressively to respond to these dry conditions, and by joining other local governments in this effort. The Cascade Water Alliance has begun an education campaign with its customers to encourage conservation, and Seattle Public Utilities has also issued a press release reminding its customers to use water wisely. We want to communicate to our employees and the general public the importance of reducing our demand on this most vital of natural resources.'

For more information about King County water supply planning efforts, please contact Dave Monthie, at 206-296-3782.