Due to seasonal low water flow conditions in the Skagit River, City of Oak Harbor, City of Anacortes, and Skagit Public Utility District (PUD) water customers are asked to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10%.
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has established minimum instream flows for the Skagit River. These minimum flow levels fluctuate throughout the year and are designed to protect fish habitat. The Skagit River is a primary water source for the area. In July, when the river’s flow levels fall below 6.54 billion gallons per day, which is needed to protect fish habitat, Oak Harbor, Anacortes, and the PUD are required to notify customers to conserve water voluntarily. The Skagit River typically falls below these levels most summers.
HOW CAN WATER CONSERVATION HELP SAVE FISH?
The more water people use or waste, the less there is for fish in rivers and streams. Conserving water helps increase the instream flow of water in rivers and streams, especially during the dry summer months and other low-flow periods. A minimum instream flow is simply the minimum amount of water required in a stream or river to safeguard fish habitat. Increasing the instream flow helps fish swim upstream and down, improves spawning habitat, and protects other wildlife and our future water resources.
Although every year is different, there are generally two times a year when we anticipate the Skagit River falling below instream flow levels — once in late winter/early spring and again in late summer/fall. In April, too little snowpack, above-average temperatures, and missing spring rains prompted the state DOE to issue a near-statewide drought declaration, which included Skagit County.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP?
Everyone can help conserve this vital resource by voluntarily reducing their water consumption. We ask every customer to save 15-20 gallons of water daily. Here are some simple water-saving ideas you can use at home:
• Shorter showers. Saves approximately 2.5 gallons per minute.
• Turn the water off when brushing your teeth. Saves up to 8 gallons a day.
• Let lawns go dormant in the summer. Saves an average of 10 gallons per minute by shortening run times.
• Water plants deeply and less often.
• Flush the toilet less. Saves approximately 1.5 gallons per flush.
Questions regarding the City of Oak Harbor's Stage 1 Voluntary Water Conservation can be directed to Chris Price, Water Manager at (360) 279-4763 or cprice@oakharbor.org.
Water Conservation | Oak Harbor, WA