I would like to offer a point of amplification relative to the Water Resource Management Plan article in the March 23 issue of the Whidbey News-Times.  First, I wish to thank the paper and specifically your reporter Eric Berto for the continuing coverage of the work of the Island County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC).

When I stated that we will never know with accuracy how much ground water we have, I was endeavoring to make a point of the fact that the county sits on a very complex system of aquifers. There are at least 5 separate levels of aquifers, and they are, in turn, made up of a huge number of large and small pockets and lenses of water.

Although we do not know specifically the total water quantities, we do have the results of several technical analyses that indicate that we have a viable water balance. These include the results of a large USGS program studying precipitation recharge which indicate that geographically a sufficient percentage of the rainfall reaches the aquifers to currently keep them at equilibrium. In addition, observations of a large number of wells shows that static levels of water have not changed significantly over time. Thus it appears that there will be enough total ground water to meet the foreseeable needs of the county population as projected in the Growth Management Plan.

The real issue is not that there will be enough water, but its distribution relative to where people wish to live, as well as how can we keep our supplies from being reduced by contamination, in particular, sea water intrusion. 

The plan currently being produced addresses all facets of these concerns by presenting recommendations on such things as education, conservation, rainwater catchment, water rights, water system coordination, ground water recharge and sea water intrusion policy.

Continued public input is welcomed. Call 678-7888. 

Don Lee

Chairman of WRAC