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.