The river runneth low

Low water in the Chetco River reveals rocks and a wide white stain where the water should be.

With the Chetco River nearing an all-time low, Brookings city officials are urging residents to conserve water.

The call for conservation is not mandatory, but a plea for residents to voluntarily water their lawns, sidewalks and cars less frequently.

“The river is substantially lower this year than last,” said Brookings Mayor Larry Anderson.

According to the United States Geological Survey gage, located in the Chetco River seven miles northeast of Brookings, the river’s flow of 60 cubic feet per second (cfs) is a new record for the date, and only 18 cubic feet per second more than the all-time low of 42 cfs, set on Oct. 14, 1987. The median, or average, flow for Aug. 25 is 92 cfs.

By contrast, the flow of the Rogue River on Tuesday, measured near Agness, was 2,140 cfs. That because the Rogue River gets its water from rain, snow melt, other rivers and tributaries. The Chetco is dependent mainly on rain for its water.

The Brookings area has been bone-dry this summer, with no measurable rainfall  in the last 73 days. The last measurable rainfall was  June 13, when the Curry Coastal Pilot weather station received .02 inches of rain. June rainfall only totaled .58 inches.

In an average year, Brookings receives nearly two inches of rain in June, a half-inch in July, and an inch in August.

On Tuesday afternoon, the river near the Brookings pumping station was ankle-deep in most places.

A wide “bathtub ring” rim of white-stained rocks along the banks of the river marked  higher water levels, and North Fork Chetco River didn’t even meet the Chetco, flowing under the rocks to join its sister.

Riverside Market has ceased all kayak rentals, citing low river levels.

Chetco Watershed Council Member Carl Page urged the Brookings City Council on Monday to institute mandated water conservation measures immediately at Monday night’s meeting, but the council declined to take any action.

“If it continues to drop it will kill off the smolt,” Page said.

There is a question about the accuracy of the gage on the Chetco River, according to USGS Hydrologist John House. He recalibrated the gage only a few weeks ago, however, he ordered another inspection because the gage has given false readings in the past.

“It may be off by as much as 10 cfs,” House said.

Even if the actual flow is 70 cfs, the flow is still lower than the 80 cfs that triggers mandatory water conservation.

However, a second part of the city’s criteria for mandatory measures has not been met – high water usage.

Water usage needs to exceed 4.5 cfs before restrictions go into effect. Currently the city’s use is at 2.1 cfs.

“Even though the criteria for water use curtailment has not been met the unusually low flow in the river is a concern and the city is urging its citizens to conserve water,” Anderson said.

The Curry Coastal Pilot’s efforts Tuesday to reach Harbor Water District officials for Harbor intake volume and water conservation plans were unsuccessful.