8.29.050 Policies and procedures.
Each action level indicated in the matrix outlines specific actions by the public works department depending on the anticipated low flow condition in the Skagit River. The durations indicated in the matrix are the anticipated period of the specified flow conditions. The duration for an action level will start when the Skagit flows drop low enough to first meet that action level’s definition and stop when the flows increase to no longer meet that definition: a higher action level can start and stop as needed, and the duration of the lower action level will still be calculated based on its original start date.
|
Action Level |
Duration |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 to 2 days |
3 to 14 days |
15 days or more |
|
|
I |
Action I.1 |
Action I.2 |
Action I.3 |
|
II |
Action II.1 |
Action II.2 |
Action II.3 |
A. Action Levels.
1. Throughout action levels I and II as defined below, the public works department will coordinate the execution of the following actions:
a. Monitor water supply forecasts provided by state and federal agencies and dam operators. Stream flow projections identified in sections A.2 and A.3 below will be based on these forecasts.
b. Establish and maintain regular communications with upstream dam operators in the Skagit River Basin to track planned releases, with the explicit motive of increasing releases to help maintain minimum Lower Skagit River instream flows. Monitor the current operating rule curves used for up-ramping and down ramping for each dam and establish communications and protocol for those situations when the city may request additional releases to augment projected deficiencies in flow.
c. Establish and maintain regular communications with the fisheries managers of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, regarding actual Skagit River flows relative to Lower Skagit River instream flows as established by the Department of Ecology (DOE), and seek to coordinate water withdrawal patterns of the city and the PUD with projected fish passage patterns.
2. Action Level I—Alert Phase. Applies when flows in the Skagit River are projected to reach the Lower Skagit River instream flow level plus 20 percent, or at an alternative level defined by the Skagit River Flow Management Committee.
The public works department will execute the following actions during the alert phase for the duration of the action level indicated:
a. Action I.1 (one to two day duration):
i. No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations.
ii. Prepare public service announcement (PSA) #1.
b. Action I.2 (three to fourteen day duration):
i. No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations.
ii. Promote a program of voluntary water use reduction by all city customers, with a goal of ten percent reduction in peak day demand.
iii. Issue PSA #1 to newspaper and radio media requesting voluntary reduction of discretionary use of water.
c. Action I.3 (fifteen days or more duration):
i. No change in water withdrawal/treatment plant operations.
ii. Continue a program of voluntary water use reduction by all city customers, with a goal of a ten percent reduction in peak day demand.
iii. Continue PSA #1 by newspaper and radio media.
3. Action Level II—Management Phase. Applies when flow in the Skagit River falls below the Lower Skagit River instream flow levels, as established by the DOE, until the flows either meet or exceed the instream flow levels.
The public works department will execute the following actions during the management phase for the duration of the action level indicated:
a. Action II.1 (one to two day duration):
i. Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt (85cfs/54.94mgd) from Lower Skagit River instream flows.
ii. Notify the upstream Skagit River dam operators of the downstream flow situation and seek additional releases, if possible, if the situation continues.
iii. Continue PSA #1 by newspaper and radio media.
iv. Prepare PSA #2 with a program to voluntarily reduce water demand to meet instream flows.
b. Action II.2 (three to fourteen day duration):
i. Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt (85cfs/54.94mgd) from Lower Skagit River instream flows and seek voluntary reduction in demand.
ii. Request the upstream Skagit River dam operators to commence additional releases. Such additional releases should be timed to realize the effect of the release at USGS gage 12200500 at the time of projected deficient stream flow.
iii. Issue PSA #2 by newspaper and radio media.
c. Action II.3 (fifteen days or more duration):
i. Limit water withdrawals to quantities exempt (85cfs/54.94mgd) from Lower Skagit River instream flows and seek voluntary reduction in demand to meet instream flows.
ii. Continue to request the upstream Skagit River dam operator to continue additional releases.
iii. Continue PSA #2 by newspaper and radio media.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
PSA #1 Alert Phase.
•Seek voluntary ten percent water use reduction with a focus on discretionary outside use of water
PSA #2 Management Phase.
•Mandatory restrictions for discretionary exterior water use to limit diversion to 85cfs/54.94mgd and voluntary reduction in demand to seek to meet instream flows. The voluntary reduction program may include the following:
•Restriction on commercial/industrial/residential irrigation.
•Reduction in peak day water use by all commercial/industrial customers, including restaurants.
•Reduction in peak day water use by all residential customers.
•As the demand approaches the out of stream diversion limit of 85cfs/54.94mgd during low flow conditions, the use reduction program will include:
•Mandatory restriction of governmental/commercial/industrial/residential irrigation activities, including farms.
•Prohibition of car washing operations at commercial/residential sites
•Reduction in peak day water use by all commercial/industrial customers, including restaurants.
•Reduction in peak day water use by all residential customers.
B. Community Outreach and Communication. The public works department will use multiple avenues of communication to inform water users of water supply shortage issues, including information about the issue of instream flows, the different action levels associated with various flow levels, the appropriate response to those action levels, the importance of providing those responses, and the notification process. Methods of communication may include the following:
•Include a flyer in residential water bills.
•Issue periodic informational PSAs to local media regarding instream flows and the Water Shortage Response Plan.
•Periodically discuss instream flows and the Water Shortage Response Plan in quarterly city publications to residents.
•Maintain information on the city website, including discussion of instream flows and water supply shortages, details of the Water Shortage Response Plan and suggested conservation measures. Display the “Skagit River Level” graphic and adjust graphic to reflect current condition/action level.
•Maintain information on the local government access television channels including information about the city website. Display the “Skagit River Level” graphic and provide information regarding its meaning.
•Email notification of action level and requested response to city mailing lists.
•Provide water supply status information on the Water Conservation Hotline, including action level notification and requested response.
C. Other Water Shortage Response Measures. The mayor may declare the implementation of other actions as needed when a water shortage exists such that water supplies are critically impacted and water demand must be reduced. The mayor may establish certain specified days or hours for lawn and garden sprinkling and may prohibit or regulate other non-essential uses of water within the water system during such times as there is an actual or impending water shortage, extreme pressure loss in the distribution system, or for any other reasonable cause. The public works department shall disseminate information using every available means to encourage customers to reduce water usage to the maximum extent possible.
The following non-essential uses of water may be prohibited on all properties connected to the city’s water system, whether inside or outside the city:
•Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, patios, and other exterior paved areas by direct hosing, except as may be necessary to prevent or eliminate materials dangerous to the public health and safety.
•Escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer’s plumbing or private distribution system for any period of time beyond which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of forty-eight hours after the customer discovers a leak or break, or receives notice from the city of such leak or break, whichever occurs first, is a reasonable time in which to correct the problem.
•Non-commercial washing of privately owned vehicles, trailers, and boats, except from a bucket or using a hose with a shutoff nozzle for quick rinses.
•Lawn sprinkling and irrigation, which allows water to run off or over spray the lawn area. Every customer is deemed to have knowledge of and control over his or her lawn sprinkling and irrigation at all times.
•Sprinkling and irrigation of lawns, ground cover, or other plants, between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. or on any day not authorized by a rotation schedule established by the city for the low water event.
•Such other uses as the mayor deems appropriate.
D. Emergency Water Shortage Response. In an emergency, the mayor may direct the opening of the Emergency Operations Center.
The city council may declare an emergency water shortage when a water shortage exists such that water rationing must be implemented and emergency water distribution may be necessary for customers without water. The city council may restrict water use by rationing the amount of water used by residential users to a certain number of gallons per day per person residing within the dwelling unit, by rationing the amount of water used by non-residential users based on a percentage of their historical usage as calculated by the city, and by any other type of rationing as the council deems necessary and appropriate in the circumstances. The public works department shall disseminate information to customers regarding the rationing plan. (Ord. 2797 § 1, 2009)