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<br />3, During June, it was discovered that both stream gages were not functioning correctly,
<br />. The stream flows were so low the gages could not accurately measure them,
<br />. EMD and USGS personnel tried to correct the overflow weir at the Evergreen gage with
<br />limited success,
<br />. We could not use the gage readings with much confidence to make decisions on moving
<br />to Level 4 drought
<br />. Management decided, with approval of the Conservation Committee, to use overflow of
<br />the dam on Evergreen Lake as the gage, As long as water was flowing, no matter how
<br />much, we would remain at Level 3, ,
<br />. Once flow stopped going over the dam we would go to Level 4, The idea was that
<br />water flowing over the dam was excess water to the District and available water rights,
<br />. When the water stopped flowing over the dam, we were into our emergency storage,
<br />
<br />4, Water stopped going over the dam on July 21 ",
<br />. On July 22nd we went to Level 4 drought status,
<br />. We did interviews with the four major news stations, public notifications were sent out,
<br />and we placed outside watering ban signs around town,
<br />. The first Level 4 period lasted 3 days,
<br />. A rainstorm gave us flow over the dam, so the ban was lifted on July 25th,
<br />. This period lasted 4 days,
<br />. The watering ban was back on July 30th, This ban lasted until August 4th, when it was
<br />lifted.
<br />. We have been on level 3 since, Rainstorms have occurred with enough frequency to
<br />maintain good flow over the dam,
<br />
<br />5. The stream gage at Morrison was permanently fixed on September 12th, The gage above
<br />Evergreen Lake is scheduled to be repaired during the winter,
<br />
<br />Effects of Administration of Droue:ht Response to Water Usal!e
<br />
<br />1, As stated above, water usage by Evergreen Metropolitan District customers during the drought
<br />of2002 was significantly reduced, Management feels this was mainly due to the high water
<br />rates imposed,
<br />2, Initial fears that water revenues would be severely impacted by the restrictions were alleviated
<br />when 3% of the customers used enough water at the penalty rate to financially make up the
<br />difference,
<br />3, The amount of water saved by going to Level 4 (outside watering ban) aided conservation of
<br />the District's emergency storage, but had little impact on the stream flows below the dam,
<br />4, The Public Notification portion of the plan required implementation of the District's website
<br />sooner, This had the positive impact of getting us accustomed to using the site, and has created
<br />a well-organized site as well as public use of the site,
<br />
<br />Problems of Administration of Droue:ht Response
<br />
<br />1. The inaccuracy of the stream gages at Morrison and Evergreen Lake created a difficult situation
<br />of attempting to fairly administer the Plan, We were forced to rely on visual observation,
<br />overflow of the dam and weather forecasts to make decisions.
<br />2. The water rates were difficult to administer within the meter reading schedule,
<br />3. Violations were not easily enforceable, It would require a lot of windshield time and late
<br />nights to properly administer,
<br />4. Public notifications were hard to get in a timely manner,
<br />
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