As of March 1, snowpack in the Olympics was half of average and precipitation was only slightly better at 57 percent of normal. Snow cover in the Elwha River basin is less than one-third of normal. The low water levels could cause a host of problems, from irrigation cutbacks to threats to endangered salmon. And area residents could be required to cut back on everything from showers to lawn watering.

Low water on the Elwha could have a direct effect on the city of Port Angeles, which gets its waster supply from the river. Recently a Port Angeles utility committee took a look at the city’s plans in case of a draught. The city’s 7,700 customers used 2.5 million gallons of water a day last month, but that amount grows to as much as 7 million gallons a day in the summer. During a drought, the city wants to keep residential and business consumption at 4 million to 5 million gallons a day.

Steps in the city’s conservative plan include voluntary conservation, followed by odd and even day sprinkling restrictions and then a lawn watering cutoff. Right now, the city is trying to find out what legal authority it has to enforce restrictions and under what conditions it should enact restrictions, said Glenn Cutler, city public works and utilities director.
Peninsula Daily News March 14,2001 Section A

Peninsula Daily News, February 04, 2000, A1.