MVN headline
"Building moratorium stays in place while commissioners seek resolution"
https://methowvalleynews.com/2021/10/13 ... esolution/
"Most speakers said they supported protecting water resources and controlling new development to preserve the valley’s rural, agricultural character. But imposing a moratorium retroactively — on lots created over the past two decades through subdivision — penalizes individual property owners for miscommunication between the county and the state, one speaker said."
What's interesting to me is that many desire to restrict further development after they move to the Methow Valley.
"Please let us in and we'll help lock the gate".
The water issue in the Methow is simple. Every well needs to have a meter on it and water use from that permit exempt well needs to be restricted to what each person actually needs for domestic water use.
How can water use be allocated if we don't know exactly how much water is being drawn from the aquifer? And remember the DOE estimates that 80% of domestic use water is returned to the aquifer.
That number could be higher if water drawn from wells is not used for mega lawns.
A reasonable number for domestic use is somewhere around 50 gallons per person per day. The current 5,000 gallons a day is outdated. The Methow is now more like a city suburb than the rural area that it once was which would have required more self-sufficiency and therefore water.
The DOE needs to step in and enforce the 1/2 acre limit on water use for lawn and gardens and maybe even reduce that limit. Wells should not be used for this purpose, only ditch irrigation.
We need to all start behaving like we are living in an arid climate, which we are, to ensure everyone shares water equitably that allows our Community to continue to grow.
Or we can just say to the hard-working construction workers who built this place and all the supporting industries such as logging, survey crews, miners,building supply workers, truckers,real estate agents, etc;
"take a hike, we're done with you now in this Valley."
Those that say they want to preserve the rural and agricultural values of this place, I say " look around that ship has already sailed".