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MONTAGUE – An emergency proclamation related to water had
residents upset during a meeting Thursday with the Montague
Water Conservation District and City Council.
The proclamation enacted mandatory regulations on residents in
an effort to conserve what water is available.
Some examples include not using potable water to irrigate, no
washing of vehicles and not using potable water to wash
driveways or sidewalks.
Montague Water Works supervisor Chris Tyhurst said the
regulations were originally going to be voluntary and monitored
but agencies require the situation to be proven extreme and
regulations set in place for emergency funding to be made
available.
The new regulations and lack of water brought questions from
residents regarding water bills, penalty rates, water usage,
fire truck washing, the rodeo grounds and brush fires.
“People can’t not have water in their homes to provide for basic
needs,” said one attendee.
“What happens if we run out of water? Do we still pay our
regular monthly bill?” asked another.
One resident blamed a recent settlement between the MWCD and
Riverkeeper/Karuk Tribe in regards to the Shasta River and Lake
Shastina, saying, “How can that be right? They want more than
mother nature is willing
to give. All the farmers will go without this year.”
Montague Mayor Jayne Keller assured the public that these issues
have been brought up many times, but they were not part of the
settlement.
“There’s more water going out than coming in,” said MWCD
Engineer Gary Black. “We’ve pleaded our case that this is the
worst water year in history.”
Tyhurst said the district has been working hard to figure out
how to put the city first and still try to stay afloat.
Other residents threw around idea of using gray water for
watering lawns.
One resident spoke of the investment many people have in their
landscaping to increase their property value, and to put that
aside, in her opinion, could prove difficult for some.
The rodeo grounds were also a hot topic, but Keller assured the
public that the grounds have their own meter, and they will pay
for what they use, including any penalties.
According to MWCD on April 1, there was 8,930 acre-feet of
watering storage at Lake Shastina. The settlement included a
clause that the lake must hold 2,000 acre-feet through Oct. 1.
After seepage loss, prior rights distribution, environmental
water distribution and city use, the MWCD estimates a shortage
of 1,821 acre-feet.
A meeting is set today at 10 a.m. for the City Council to
discuss the situation further and determine penalties for water
overuse and an alternate water source plan if Montague runs dry.
READ MORE:
http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/article/20140411/News/140419892#ixzz37z8EbLtP
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