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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1981)
Spilyay Tymoo June 10,1981 Page 3 We’re in for a drought year Chart Information Legend fo r above charts L = Large amount M = Medium amount S = Small, but significant amount Water conservation should be on everyone’s mind as summer approaches. Water tables around the state and particularly in Warm Springs are way below normal. Warm Springs Water Master Deepak Sehgal says, “We’re going to be in for a drought year.” And affirming that statement is district conser vationist from Madras Jim Cornwell who says, “It looks bleak for the whole state.” Most of the snow packs have already melted, says conserva- t i o n i s t C o r n w e ll. T h e Deschutes snow pack is 44% of normal. Most precipitation this winter came as rain and ran off immediately. Cornwell says, “ We won’t see run-off at the last of June as we would like.” • W a te r-u s e rs in W arm Springs currently get their water from Shitike Creek. This year there will be hardly enough water -for the fish, Sehgal says. “We’re going to be in for a drought” During the winter con sumers in-Warm Springs use “less than one half million gallons of water per day,” Sehgal commented. But during summer months water usage increases to approximately 2 million gallons each day. Sehgal goes on to say, “ Our water usage is three times what it is off the reservation. We’re careless, it’s free. This year we’re worse off than in an av erag e y ear. We m ust conserve all we can.” Although reservoirs and a water line are currently being constructed, the system will not be complete for some time. “We have the whole summer and winter to face,” Sehgal says. z V The Warm Springs water board expresses an equal concern about the water supply situation. At a meeting on May 13 the board laid down some water conservation policies. The provisions outlined should be adhered to immediately by a ll w ater-u sers.; S e h g a l says,“The sooner we can tell people about this the better.” The Deschutes snow pack is 44% of normal The water board statement reads, “In order to maintain the minimum flow for fish life and the excellent quality of the water in Shitike Creek, the w ater a c c o rd in g to the following policy: I . Water use permits will not be issued for consumption uses or use which degrade the quality of th e ' water for the period August 1 st-October 31 st. 2. All other uses of water must be approved by the water control board before any action will be taken, for the same period of time. 3. Petitions for variances to this policy shall be heard by the water control board. The statement goes on to read, “In case of drought conditions the water control board shall by order declare an emergency to exist for any stream on the reservation.” A priority system will be used to determ ine w ater allocation. On Shitike Creek first p rio rity belongs to domestic and community use follow ed resp ectiv ely by fishing, wildlife and vegetation, a g ric u ltu re , ra n g e an d community, recreation and industrial use. Those who use the water resource “ will curtail their use of water to the minimum while still functioning effectively.” Water conservation devices are suggested for use by water- users and by the utility department. Some such devices are shower heads which use 4.0 gallons per minute, lavatory sink faucets using 4.0 gallons per minute, tank-type flush toilets using 3.5 gallons and flush-ometer toilets using 3.0 gallons. All users of the water resource will curtail their use of water. This will be done in the following ways, ♦‘the utility manager will put the following conservation measures into effect along wilth any other measures the manager feels would help.” a. Set up a leak detection survey, b. Notify public th a t c o n s e rv a tio n measures are necessary. The public notice may i n c l u d e th e f o l l o w i n g provisions. (1.) No unauthor ized person is allowed to operate any valve, connect with any water main or fire-hydrant, interfere with any building reservoir, pumping station, treatment plant or structure belonging to the tribes except for emergency purposes. (2.) No person shall use water supplied for any purpose oth er th an dom estic use (cooking, drinking, watering small lawns less 54 acre, toilet facilities). In areas where livestock is allowed to be kept and domestic water is used NO W ASTE O F W ATER is allowed. First priority belongs to d o m e s tic and community use (3.) No person, except in emergency, shall open or tamper with any fire hydrant. (4.) No water-user shall see or collect any money for the use of water without express p e rm is s io n fro m T r ib a l C o u n c il. (5 .) W a ste o f water-user shall see or collect any money for the use of water w ithout express permission from Tribal Council. (5.) Waste of water is strictly prohibited includine any leaks existing between-the mainline and place of use. No Waste of Water is allowed (6.) Waste of water to be e lim in a te d in c lu d e s: 1. Community Center to stop using drinking w ater for cooling purposes. 2. All excess use of water for car washes, truck washing, road washing, etc. are prohibited. V arience to this can be obtained from the utility manager when good reasons for the use is forthcoming. 3. WSFPI to use water solely for domestic purposes. 4. All users to inspect properties to see if any waste of water is occurring and if so have it repaired immediately. to take place from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm during the restricted irrigation season, c. No person shall use a hose for irrigation without having a nozzle or other water spraying devices attached thereto, d. The users whose premises are on the upper campus Miller Heights and Dry Creek in Agency area shall sprinkle on Mondays, Wednnesdays and Fridays only. The users on Lower campus, West Hills, Mobile home park and Elliot Heights shall sprinkle on Thursday, Thursdays, and Saturdays only. Water conservation devices are suggested We have a whole summer and winter to face Violations of public notice provisions by any person under the jurisdiction df the tribal court shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $360 or by imprisonment in the tribal jail for a period not to exceed six months, or both such fine and imprisonment. Violations by any other person shall be punishable by expulsion from the reservation. 7. Use of domestic water for sprinkling lawns and irrigation of small less than 54 acre g a rd e n s is re s tric te d as follows: a. Irrigation season in the Warm Springs Agency shall extend from April 15 to October 15 of each year. b. The utility manager shall fix and determine hours during which domestic water may be used during the irrigation season. T he in itia l w a te r b o a rd recommendation ' is that no watering~of lawriror gardens is E n f o r c e m e n t o f th e provisions will be provided by the tribal police department which will routinely patrol the Agency area. Police personnel will endeavor to resolve any inpaction by education and verbal recommendations, then by written order. If all else fails, tribal law and order code re so u rc e s o f th e police department will be used to enforce these provisions. The aim of the policy set forth by the water control board means the same to everyone—conservé water.
