Mill Creek Provides . . .
The 22,000-acre Municipal Watershed gets up to 80” of precipitation at elevation. It delivers pristine water and a rich food web that supports fish, birds, and amphibians. It’s the source of 90% of your drinking water, allows hydroelectric generation, and partial replenishment of the deep aquifer. Most of the year, 50 million gallons a day flow through.
. . . And It Is A Challenge In The Summer. . .
Come summer, that flow drops to 12 million gallons a day, or less.
Water use in the City system rises to 16 million gallons a day. Deep
wells make up the difference. The challenge is two-fold: low flows in
the creek stress the food web and fish habitat, and the deep aquifer is
slowly declining.
. . . And Getting More Challenging. . .
Weather patterns are changing. More of our precipitation is rain, and
the snowpack is melting sooner. Extreme heat events drive demand
for water upward. The high-demand, low-flow period in summer is
getting longer.
. . . Will You Help Meet the Challenge?
Every Drop Left In Mill Creek Counts. Look for ways to be efficient
in your household. Outside, only water landscapes early or late in the
day. Invest in efficient watering systems. Consider converting turf to
low water demand (native or riparian) plantings.
Our partners can help:
Heritage Gardens
