Buck Park Water Source Clarified

Buck Park and Orcas School District Field Irrigation
Paul Kamin, EWUA and Bob Eagan, OIPRD

— from Kim Ihlenfeldt, Orcas Island Park and Recreation —

Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) owns and maintains Buck Park. OIPRD and Orcas Island School District (OISD) lease “surplus” water rights from Eastsound Water (EWUA) for use at Buck Park. (In this case “surplus” refers to reserve rights EWUA has secured for future connections.) The water used to irrigate does not come from EWUA’s potable system. The lease agreement for water usage includes specific aquifer protections that minimize the risk of “over withdrawal” or other adverse impacts to the community’s groundwater supply.

In 2005, EWUA and OISD developed a dedicated well specifically for irrigation. This well is closely monitored as a part of the Eastsound aquifer. Monitoring to date has shown that pumping from the well does not diminish capacity at any of EWUA’s other wells.

Water use is closely monitored and recorded by regular meter readings and a data logger has been installed in the well to record water levels; this data is included in EWUA’s monitoring matrix. The irrigation is not adversely impacting EWUA’s production wells and is actually helping EWUA evidence that there is adequate groundwater capacity in this area for future connections supported from a well we have developed on a neighboring property. EWUA’s nearby Clark/Mt. Baker well will be connected to the system as demand develops.

Buck Park serves a large segment of the Orcas community, hosting recreational and sports activities for all ages including OISD WIAA sports, volleyball, soccer, softball, pickle ball, tennis, frisbee, and more. Irrigation of the sports fields increases the safety of the fields and makes for a superior playing surface. Summer irrigation is closely monitored by Orcas Park and Rec to insure that water is used efficiently, and not wasted. Through this effort Buck Park will be ready for the wide variety of summer and fall activities that it hosts.

Questions about Buck Park management should be directed to Orcas Park and Rec, oiprd@oiprd.com. Your OIPRD commissioners are also eager to hear any comments or suggestions you might have. Bob Eagan, Martha Farish, Justin Paulsen, Vicki Vandermay, or Joe Gaydos can be reached through our website or any time you see them around town.

EWUA is happy to take any inquires about ongoing groundwater monitoring and water rights.