|
About SPU
>
Water System
>
Water Supply
Current Water Supply Conditions and Outlook
November 4, 2009
Seattle Public Utilities supplies water to 1.3 million people and businesses in the region. Nearly all this water is from the 90,000-acre Cedar River Watershed and the 13,300-acre South Fork Tolt River Watershed in eastern King County. Our operations must be protective of the environment, particularly the fish and wildlife resources of the Cedar and Tolt River watersheds, while we provide a reliable source of high quality drinking water. This weekly update is intended to provide the latest information on water supply conditions and outlooks.
|
Masonry Pool Reservoir on 10/6/09
by Ty Barrett.
|
Supply Outlook
Our overall water supply situation and outlook is good. Recent rains have helped improve our reservoir inflow conditions and these reservoir inflows are refilling our water supply storage reservoirs after the summer and early fall reservoir drawdown period.
Last week, 4.09 inches and 4.51 inches of precipitation were recorded in our Cedar and South Fork Tolt River watersheds, respectively, as a series of rain storms moved through the Pacific Northwest region.
Chester Morse Lake at the Overflow Dike is at elevation 1552.4 feet, about 5.2 feet higher than last week, and about 6.3 feet above its long-term average (based on the years 1989 to 2005). Masonry Pool Reservoir at Masonry Dam is at elevation 1551.5 feet, about 31.2 feet higher than last week, and about 13.9 feet above its long term average. The South Fork Tolt Reservoir at the South Fork Tolt Dam is at elevation 1743.6 feet, about 5.3 feet higher than last week, and about 0.2 feet below its long-term average. Water releases from reservoir storage are actively being managed to balance water supply, fish habitat and flood management objectives for both the Cedar and South Fork Tolt Rivers.
Water consumption for the previous seven days averaged approximately 105 mgd. That is less than the 108 mgd consumed during the same period last year, and less than the average of 120 mgd used during the same period over the years 1999-2008.
Chinook spawning is winding down, and sockeye salmon continue to spawn in the Cedar River. Chinook and pink salmon spawning is drawing to a close in the Tolt system. Coho salmon are spawning in both systems. Chinook spawning peaks in early to mid-October and continues through mid-November. Sockeye spawning peaks in mid- to late October and continues into December. Coho spawning activity is believed to peak in November or December and continues into February.
Related links
Landsburg Mitigation
Water Sources and Treatment
|
|
