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Washington City mayor warns of historic low snowpack and urges water conservation
Summary
Mayor Staley said this winter is "the worst year on record" for mountain snowpack since 1895 and urged residents to conserve water; he reassured residents that reservoirs still contain supply for summer but emphasized continued conservation.
Mayor Staley warned Washington City residents that mountain snowpack this winter is the lowest on record since monitoring began in 1895 and urged continued household water conservation.
Staley said, “since 1895 when this area was tracking snowpack in the mountains, this is the worst year on record for a winter.” He urged residents to “keep your eye on the ball with respect to conservation and wise water policy in your homes and in your activities.”
Why it matters: mountain snowpack feeds local reservoirs that supply water through the city’s dry summers. The mayor said the city currently has water in its reservoirs — calling them a “savings account” — but advised residents to conserve so supplies can be stretched through a potentially long, hot, dry summer.
Details and limits: Staley characterized the winter as historically dry but did not provide specific snowpack measurements, reservoir levels or the name of the monitoring agency. He said residents should hope for wetter winters in future years but provided no timetable for additional conservation measures, restrictions or incentives.
Ending: The mayor closed by reiterating pride in the town and signing off; he did not announce a formal municipal water restriction or new policy during the message.
