On Saturday, March 4, we will have (from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM) displays and
exhibits and posters at the Palouse Empire Mall. You'll learn about
water conservation, water-efficient landscaping, water quality, local
water management issues (e.g., pumping trends), how water meters work,
local water systems (from start to finish, from ground to creek), water
testing, and much, much more. There will be poster contests for primary,
secondary, and university students (please call Steve Gill at 882-6057
for more information for the primary and secondary school students).
The reason for having the Summit is to educate/learn about local water,
and to consider current pumping trends in the context of community
growth. Water levels in the deeper aquifer (Grande Ronde aquifer) have
steadily been decreasing over many years. A computer model suggested
that aquifer levels would stabilize if pumping stabilized. In 1992 each
entity (the counties, the cities, and the two universities) decided to
voluntarily limit pumping increases to no more than 1% per year based on
a 5-year moving average beginning in 1986 (i.e., the first average was
taken from 1982 to 1986). Furthermore, each entity agreed to establish
a voluntary maximum pumping threshold of 125% of 1986 pumpage.
The two cities and two universities have central pumping systems, and
water pumping is monitored regularly by these entities. All have
exceeded the 1% limit (except for Washington State University), and the
aggregate pumping has exceeded the 1% limit. Pumpage in Moscow exceeded
the 125% limit in 1994, and Pullman pumpage is approaching the limit.
Factors contributing to the increased pumping include dry weather (i.e.,
lots of outdoor watering) and increased population.
Exceeding the pumping limits does not necessarily imply that we are
"mining" ground water; a stabilization of pumping rates may lead to
stabilized water levels. There is significant uncertainty about our
water supply, in (1) the amount of actual recharge, (2) the residence
times of ground water in our area (how long it has been in the ground),
(3) aquifer characteristics, and (4) basin size (i.e., the size of the
bathtub determines, in part, the amount of water in the tub). There is
also uncertainty inherent in the computer model that has been used to
describe our ground water system.
The purpose of the summit is therefore to (1) consider what we know about
our aquifer, and what we don't know, and to (2) address water management
(quality and pumping) issues in the context of community growth.
Please call me for more information about the Summit. Please come and
participate in the Summit. The event is free but you are encouraged to
pre-register (885-6429) so that we are sure to provide enough space and
refreshments.
I will be presenting water pumpage data and ground water level
information to the Pullman-Moscow Water Resources Committee on February
9, at 2:30 PM, at the McCluskey Services Building at WSU. The meeting is
open to the public.