The Methow Watershed Council is hosting a series of meetings around the valley about current and future water issues — water availability, basins where new building is restricted, and long-range water planning.
Mike Fort and Bill Tackman of the watershed council’s technical committee will demonstrate an update to the instream-flow reservation database, which provides an estimate of water availability based on current zoning and projected build-out.
Okanogan County Commissioner Andy Hover will discuss the county’s response to a recent decision by the Washington Department of Ecology that restricts new wells in 30 basins around the valley, including Wolf Creek, Beaver Creek and Davis Lake. The restrictions essentially bar all new residential development. Hover and members of the technical committee will answer questions and talk about possibilities for new development in these areas.
Ashley Thrasher, chair of the watershed council, and Mary McCrea, chair of the Methow Watershed Foundation, will present an overview of Water 2066: A Vision for the Methow. Water 2066 was created in 2016 to define and agree on a community-based, long-term vision for the Methow Valley’s water resources.
The watershed council is starting a voluntary water-metering program later this year. People will be able to volunteer for the free water meters at the meetings.
The meetings will be held in three locations:
Tuesday, April 30, 7 p.m., Mazama Community Club.
Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m., YourSpace, TwispWorks.
Saturday, May 4, 1 p.m., Methow Community Hall, Methow.
