News stories on GoLakeChelan and other media, a press release by the Chelan County PUD, and a series of Emails from local residents prompts us to open this section:
A DISCUSSION OF LAKE CHELAN LAKE LEVEL
The annual draw down of the lake.
These photos were part of a story on GoLakeChelan on
Wed – March 5th.
(Click Here)
At about the same time the Chelan County PUD issued information (Click Here) detailing their plans to draw the lake down to levels not seen in many years.
The announcement and draw-down has caught at least two boat owners by surprise: Shelly Ward, owner of the Innmorata Dinner Boat, and Bub Watson of Watson’s Resort are both reporting that they find their larger boats which, as we understand it, have been moored all winter in Manson Bay, being grounded by the draw-down. In the case of Ms Ward – she has taken her case to Chelan County PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon and to the community via an Email sent to most everyone who might listen; including the media people in Western Washington. We are contacting both Shelly & Bub and inviting them to share their concerns in this Blog.And we invite our many readers to join in too.
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March 9, 2008 at 12:02 am
NOTE: At the request of the author of this post – we have significantlly edited and removed portions which he has determined were based on incorrect information or understandings of information. ~ GoLakeChelan staff.
I am responding to an invitation to state my thoughts about the Lake Chelan water level.
Thank-you Jerry and GoLakeChelan for the opportunity.
To begin with, I would like to say that I appreciate the Chelan Co. PUD and its employees for all that they do for us. We often forget about these loyal workers until we see them in action following a wind storm or some other event like that. In our business, my dealings with the PUD and their employees have been good and I have a lot of respect for them and what they do for us.
I would also like to say that I am not against the lowering of Lake Chelan. There are many benefits to lowering the lake besides power production and regulating the snow pack run off. Our lake stays clean because the lake is lowered every year, killing all the previous years lake bottom growth. The lowering of the lake also allows waterfront property owners a chance to make repairs on their docks and water system feed lines. Many folks also enjoy walking the beaches in the spring when the water is low. While I am not against the lowering of the lake, this past year I have had some concerns.
(Text removed)
I have a personal concern for our business’s 40 foot boat, which is stuck behind the Manson Marina dock and will sit high and dry if the Lake continues to drop; but I have longer lasting concerns as to what we can expect over the next several years.
Is this what we, the community members of Lake Chelan want to see on an average year?
Can we rely on weather conditions and snow pack as a guideline to what the lake elevation will be?
These are just a few of the questions that the PUD may need to answer for everyone.
We need to know what to expect now as well as in the years ahead.
Many of the lake pumps and wells along the lake may be running out of water which also poses a fire concern.
Does the PUD consider these things?
My concerns are not just about a boat. I have concerns as to the lack of information the PUD has provided everyone.
I have concerns as to the conflicting information that has been given out.
I have concerns as to what we can expect next year and the years ahead.
For those of you who read this, thank you for your time. I know I tend to get a little long winded but it is my hopes that what I have said may instigate a little discussion and thought amongst the folks here in the valley.
I hope it will get the PUD to communicate more clearly and consistently in their reports and newspaper articles.
And if anyone has any ideas on how to dry dock a 40 foot boat in the Manson Bay, please let me know.
Bub Watson
March 9, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I too have comments on this issue.
I am an owner of the Innamorata (the Dinner Boat) and like many others, I have more than a little inconvenience at stake here.
My boat is a wooden, classic 56ft Chris Craft, one of six ever built, and one of two that remain. It is also an operating, income producing business. We are now stranded at Manson Bay Marina, as we are under construction for the new season. I am still unable to start my engines (waiting for more parts), and am approximately 1ft from resting on the lake bed. If that occurs, the destruction would be devastating on this “collector” irreplacable piece of “Dean Martin” history. I am of the opinion that just because the PUD “can” legally continue to lower the lake to such levels, doesn’t mean they should. If we can’t operate our water related businesses… that support tourism, our huge source of survival here… why would we stay. Ann Congdon recommended I take my boat to Stehekin where the water is deeper. Even if I could start it, how can I do the maintenance work if can’t get materials aboard? And how will I get workers there and back anyway? We are no longer just a 3 mo per year community. I have people who want my charter service year round. I can’t operate if I don’t have anywhere to board patrons.
She also said that lots of people ask to have the lake “lowered” just so they can build. We are not asking for some special treatment that would only benefit us….. we are asking for survival of half the community. If we can’t be accommodated as major contributors to the tourism dollars added to our towns…..why would we stay? The water related industry here has provided much money and growth opportunities here. Is it wise to bite the hand that feeds us? I say no.
I pay for power with PUD…. I pay taxes for the beauty of our “Lake” community. And, my family has been here for 5 generations, built half the place. How can anyone expect to live in this community when there is no public moorage available in either of these towns?
Do they really want us to take tourism draws “away”…. just so we can have a lake to moor on. Hardly logical to me.
The biggest consideration here should be that no one was prepared for the impact, financial risks, and danger of the lower lake level. Therefore, no one made other plans. So, in order to keep a community thriving, PUD needs to put the brakes on til we can solve the problem! If we need to dig deeper in the current marinas, or build docks further out, fine….just give us time to get it done. We have to determine the impact of doing those things too. And how to pay for it. You don’t just destroy half of a growing community because you can. We are not 5, Ollie Ollie Oxen Free…. we get to do millions of dollars worth of damage to public and private citizens because our “deal” says we can. Lets find adult solutions for “ALL” parties involved. Didn’t anyone teach these decision makers about “”team work? When did we become so uncaring for others? If it’s not working… STOP DOING IT! I think our lake and needs of the lake need to move up on the food chain here. I love salmon too, but not a million dollar one. We can save us both if we try!
I would also like to know what relationship this water level has to the new Kayaking plan in the gorge.
PUD answers are not good enough for me. Do we really let all this damage occur? Seems a bit un-American to me. A little inhuman too. I am not fond of being mindless sheep in the throws of hardship. I will seek help til I get it.
I am meeting with the Chamber & PUD at the Wednesday evening meeting to address this topic. If I don’t have some reprieve, I will seek legal assistance from our court system. to attempt a “stay of execution” so to speak. I don’t know what else to do…. open for suggestions tho.
I guess I’ve out done Bub in the long winded area…..sorry.
Thanks to all who are participating, and working for solutions.
Shelly Ward
March 9, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’m not sure why the moderator changed some of my words that now don’t make sence, but they did the way I wrote it. Please forgive some of the seemingly disconnected phrases.
March 9, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Shelly
The changes came from me using a ’spell-checker’ on your posted comment.
I apologize if, in using that tool, l I changed your intent.
We will be happy to replace your post with your original message.
Or if you want … copy and paste your post and email me the fixes and I will replace it for you.
So sorry – as we really appreciate your participation -
Jerry
March 10, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I am new to all the snow servey stuff and realized that the Snow Water shown above may not have been what I thought it was. SWE I discovered is “How much liquid is contained in a volume of solid snow” which was not what I thought it was. These figures by themselves do not indicate the amount of total moisture we have as I thought it did. Please disregard this information. The run off forcast never the less remains to be average with a far from average draw down of lake chelan.
I am sorry for the mix up.
March 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm
OK – I kind of started over with all this snow information, which I gathered from snotel and which anyone can view. Actually, it pretty interesting. I hope my figures are in line this time. IF they are not, please let me know. The one thing I could not find on snotel was a history of snow totals.
SPRING-SUMMER STREAMFLOW FORECAST. The spring-summer streamflow forecast for our area is forecasted to be 90%-109%. I would say this looks to be about average.
Last years March spring-summer streamflow forecast was 110-129% which is above average.
SWE (Snow Water Equivalent) figures are going up while the snow totals have decreased, but this is normal as the snow begins to contain more moisture. If you look over snotel, you will see that is is not uncommon.
SWE is “How much liquid water is contained in a volume of solid snow.” or “the amount of water measured from melting a known amount of snow.”
I did some checking with two Lake Chelan locations.
PARK CREEK RIDGE
On March 10th, the snow depth was 114.3 inches.
On March 10th the SWE was 50.6.
The highest snow total this year was on Feb. 8th with 150.8 inches and 43.6 SWE. Notice the snow depth has actually gone down.
On March 10th, the TAP (Total Accumulated Precip) was 53.2
The average March 10th TAP going back to 1980 is 51.5 inches. This looks to be about average.
LYMAN LAKE
On March 10th, the snow depth was 134.2
On March 10th the SWE was 49.2
The highest snow total this year was on Feb. 9th with 154.2 inches and 41.3 SWE.
On March 10th the TAP was 32.5 inches.
The average March 10th TAP going back to 1980 is 55 inches
Here the TAP would indicate that it is well below average.
I wish I could get some snow totals so we could have an average on those but if we look at the TAP, it would still indicate that we are at average to below average. If this weather continues, or even if we get below average snow or even precip, I think you will see our snow pack run off drop below average.
Yet I was told that there is some unstable weather moving in which could produce rain. I asked what would that mean to the PUD and I was told that the moiture would mean the Lake would continue to drop down. I guess the only way to get the lake to stop dropping would be if we have extream flooding. Snow Pack, run off forcasts and the “New Expected Average Reservoir Elevation” appear to not have that much to do with things.
As for the New Expectd Average Reservoir Elevation, I would have thought that this would be a water elevation that we could expect on an average year with aveage snow pack, precip, etc. I was told today that the this is not the case. What is “average” then if this is not something we can figure as being “average”.
In closing, Last August 28th, 2007, in the Wenatchee world, an article said:
“Chelan – The level of Lake Chelan will be a little lower this fall to ehlp salmon and a little higher next June to help recreation. Officials say they don’t expect the changes to negatively affect lake users.” and “Estimates under the new schedule show the lowest monthly average lake level at 1,085.4 feet above sea level in April.”
In this same article, Chelan County PUD commission Ann Congdon, who represent the Chelan area had this to say:
“I just don’t see any real significant changes for people using the lake for recreation or fishing.”
March 12, 2008 at 9:12 am
Well Bub, as always, a wealth of valuable information. Thank you for your hard work and caring. These are really good points I hope we can discuss at the meeting tonight. It does seem that we have very different stories about why the levels are as they are. I have been told several times by PUD that the community was warned about the low levels comming and should have expected this and prepared. And that the impact on the community was taken into consideration as to do no harm. However, the above referrenced Wenatchee World article, shows a very different situation was to be “expected”. In light of this, we should certainly get a little mercy. A little time to prepare for this dramatic difference in what was said last year. It turns out we “were” prepared for the estimate that was given….1085 ft. That is a very big difference from 1079, or even 1082 when you are in the water. If the parks department had no idea, and no warning to it’s patrons…. just how were we supposed to “be prepared”. A bit confusing to say the least.
I would ask everyone to encourage other industries in the community to visably stand up with us in this matter. We are “all” effected by this via the domino effect. Do we only want to make a living 3 mos per year?.
I rec’d notice that the Boat Company has to suspend ferry service to the communities up lake. How can that possibly equate to “no negative impact on the lake users”. Have we been selected as acceptable sacrifices for more power? What is the “true” cost then of more electricity. The price is way too high in my opinion.
Thanks for listening!
March 12, 2008 at 9:00 pm
MORE CONFLICTING INFORMATION BY THE CHELAN CO. PUD IN THIS WEEKS CHELAN MIRROR.
“PUD forecasts normal runoff into Lake Chelan.”
Spring weather expected to be cooler, dryer than normal.
Scott Buehn, the PUD’s power resource manager, said the spring runoff forecast covers the period from April 1 through July 1, and despite above average snowfall in December, January and early February, weather forecasters are projecting below-average precipitaion and temperatures from May through June, which is expected to partially offset the above average snowpack.”
Prior to this statement, the Mirror stated that “the Chelan County Public Utility Deistrict is projecting a spring runoff of just 98 percent to 103 percent of average.”
The article went on to say: “Dispite the low lake level reported on March 1, the PUD issued a statement assuring folks in the Lake Chelan area that “” there should be plenty of water to refill by July 1 if precipitation is normal for the rest of the spring, lake level is expected to drop to 1081 feet.”"
Ok folks, the PUD says that the long range forcast is for below average precip., but not to worry. If we get normal precip, which is not forcasted, the lake should??????? refill by July 1.
So what are they assuring us?
In another article in the same Chelan Mirror, it stated: “Although the minimum lake level is set at 1079 elevation, Congdon said the PUD has never been allowed to drop below the 1080 elevation. With an average to 111 percent of average snowpack in the mountians and lower elevations, Condon said the PUD is projecting there will be plenty of runoff this spring to bring the lake levels back up to a safe operating level for the Lady of the Lake cruise line and others.”
Did you catch that. Plenty of runoff this spring so the Lady of the Lake can operate this spring. I am sure that makes everyone at the Boat Co. feel better.
Now we have an average to 111 percent of average snowpack. This is the first I have heard the 111 percent of average snowpack figure.
And the PUD SHOULD be able to refill the lake by July 1 if we get normal precipition, but it is not forcasted. Then what?
I would really like to see some consistant information from the PUD.
March 13, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Well friends, here we are. The PUD stated in the meeting at Campbells today that the reduction of the lake level has stopped. Not sure about the math they were a little slower than we were on….but happy for the cooperative reprieve, for what ever reason. Here is what I do know…. we definitely have to prepare for this and lower lake levels to occur somewhat regularly. I met with the Chamber of Commerce Board Wednesday night and was very encouraged by there support and compassion for the situation many of us were facing. I think it is important for all to know that they, and the Manson Business Assn. were behind us 100%. They understood the domino effect and impact on the entire communty. They too want to proceed with the year round activity that the lake offers us. The challenge for us all now, is to develope a plan of attack so to speak. We must prepare for what is to come. Most importantly, if we want year round lake activity, we must extend docks, or partitians of sort, dig deeper, or build new in order to endure the coming “new average” of lower lake levels. This means many things. We will need access to moorage in deeper public marina’s, we will need access to fuel and pump tanks at these lower levels. And of course, the increase of boating on the lake will require more public rest rooms for the boaters. We surely want to be pro-active in keeping the lake as “clean” as possible. Clearly, this will cost money. As a community, we need to figure out how to pay for it, make it all user friendly, and environmently viable. The fun part is that we have to do this before we end up in crisis again next year.
Though I learned much from todays meeting with the PUD, I have no dillusion that they don’t intend to lower the lake to the absolute minimum as often as possible. We love having power…. we love having fish….we love having a long term viable environment. PUD’s answer to that is likely going to be using the lake for ever possible dime of power they can get out of it. Welcome to earth and our system for survival.
I was really impressed with the many insights at the meeting. It reminds me that we are paying attention as a group. I did my best to stress that we want to have this work for “everybody”. I truly believe we can accomplish that. However, it seems that time is our enemy.
I am asking anyone who will listen to “jump in”. Lets cover our butts this time and do this thing right. If you want your interest to be considered…. speak up! We need the entire community at the table to do this right and responsibly. Lets “act” in our own behalf, rather than react to what is inevitible. I really hate chasing a target. It’s so much easier to place it and rest in it.
I can’t thank you all enough for standing with us in the battle. And Jerry…. giving us a voice means more than you may know. Bub… good homework! Now we need to encourage everyone to get the real job done. PREPARE for what is “absolutely” to come. We can whine about it or take it on and make it work for all of us. I’m in, and willing to offer what little I have to offer. Lets get a win here shall we?!?!!
THANKS AGAIN!
Shelly Ward and Mike Freer appreciate your support of the Innamorata
March 15, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hello again. I hope everyone reading this blog will also make a point to read the PUD comment under lake level categories. I really want to hit home that we have much to do before next spring. Not sure what exactly, but we need to put the many brilliant minds we have in this community together, and figure it out. I made a point of braging to the PUD on Thursday that if we get a reprieve, I have full confidence that our capable community and leadership can solve our problem to satisfaction. So, all you wise intelligent people, come to the table and lets find out everything we need in the years to come, what will work, what it will cost, how we will pay for it, and how to do it in an environmentally safe way. Where is the table you ask? I’m working on that. I would say the Chamber could find a big enough table for us all. I have a sneaking suspicion that our beloved host of this blog will let us know when and where once the table is chosen. He is helpful that way!
Thanks yet again!