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Second‑source groundwater study flags late‑season low flows and land access as key constraints for Leavenworth water supply
Summary
A consultant presented a second‑source groundwater feasibility study April 22, telling Leavenworth City Council that climate projections and senior water rights create a short, high‑risk low‑flow window each late summer and that identifying drillable public‑access parcels is the main obstacle to a new well field.
A consultant’s review of Leavenworth’s water supply options on April 22 told council members the city should look for a second groundwater source to reduce reliance on a surface diversion from the Icicle River, but that legal and physical constraints narrow the practical options.
Consultant Adam, who led the presentation, summarized two core findings: (1) the city’s current surface‑groundwater mix and senior upstream water rights create a short, late‑season period (roughly a week in September) when actual streamflow drops below the amount senior rights require, producing a high‑risk diversion window; and (2) hydrogeologic well logs show productive aquifer pockets near the hatchery and south of the boat ramp but the city currently lacks access to many of the privately owned parcels in the most promising zones.
"So it's really not very long. It's like a week," Adam said describing the brief period each late summer when low flows could create senior‑call risk on the intake.
What the study examined: the consultant reviewed historic streamflow, local well logs (about 500), and climate model projections. Under higher emissions scenarios, models show the seasonal peak arriving earlier with smaller peak flows — a pattern that reduces late‑summer reliability for surface diversions over coming decades, the consultant said.
The technical pathway proposed by the consultant is to (a) continue conservation measures and targeted programs (leak detection, turf replacement pilots, irrigation‑to‑irrigation conversions where rights exist); and (b) advance a targeted groundwater drilling program on parcels in purple/shallow bedrock pockets identified by well‑log analysis. The consultant recommended securing a purchase‑and‑drill option or conditional purchase agreement with a property owner in a promising parcel so the city can mobilize drillers quickly once access and permitting are confirmed.
Key nontechnical constraint: several property owners in the best geologic locations have declined leases or sale offers so far; the Department of Health also constrains leased well solutions for public systems, the consultant said. Councilmembers asked staff whether acquisition or purchase‑and‑sale conditional agreements could overcome that barrier; staff said they are pursuing property owner outreach and will follow up on drilling agreements.
Next steps: the consultant said the city should complete targeted test wells on a willing parcel and assemble permitting (cultural resources, environmental work) if the test wells show suitable yield and water‑quality. Staff said if a successful parcel is identified and the city drills production wells the project would require additional funding and months of permitting and design.
Council did not take any formal vote on the study at the April 22 meeting; councilmembers directed staff to continue outreach to property owners and return with refined cost estimates and a testing timeline.
