August 2001 to August 2002 flow was 2,005 acre feet ( 653,624,553.5 gallons per year or 1,790,752.2 gallons per day).
We decided to start collecting stream flow data at our December 2000 meeting. After raising the money, it was installed and we started collecting flow in August 2001. This is the first year's data. Previous to this gage, stream flow had been estimated from nearby rainfall rates, data from other watersheds and a couple of snap-shot flow measurements. The best number was that on average the watershed drained 5,000 acre feet per year (PWA 1991). (1 acre foot is 326,000 gallons).
Average stream flow numbers don't tell the story. There is a tremendous amount of variability in rain from year to year; this affects the stream level. The flow in December 2001 was 350.5 acre feet for the month (3,685,903 gallons per day or 2,559 gallons per minute) compared to 35.5 acre feet in August 2002 (372,796.8 gallons per day or 258.9 gallons a minute). It appears that these flows may present a major problem to steelhead who are finding very little water to move around in; this could be a limiting factor in their recovery and removal from the "Threatened Species" list. We think that based on the information we have collected to data, we all need to reduce our water usage. We particularly need to conserve during the dry moths of dry years like we are finding ourselves at the moment.
We measured only 2,005 acre feet of flow from 15 August 2001 until 15 September 2002. This is less than 40% of the previously advertised average stream flow (PWA 1991). The 2,005 doesn't include the contribution form Joshua Creek which has previously been estimated to average about 400 acre feet per year.
For those who would like their data in cubic feet
We will continue to collect flow data. As we get more useful information we will pass it along. The Planning Group will be looking into flow requirements and ways we can protect flows at sufficient levels at future meetings.
Stream gage data provided through the generous donation of owners and residents of the Garrapata Creek watershed. Calculations and data collection by Melanie Vincent, CSUMB under the supervision of Dr. Doug Smith, CSUMB. We wish to acknowledge their hard work and generous donations by our neighbors!
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This page was last updated on April 23, 2007