Makah Indian Reservation Water Supply Study: Working Together to Develop a Groundwater Supply
A Pacific Northwest Region Native American Program
Highlight in Fiscal Year 2001 with updates in
2002
The Makah Indian Reservation occupies about 44 square miles of the northwest tip of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The Reservation’s water and sewer facilities serve most of the 1,350 residents, as well as about 100 nonresidential users. The reservation is a popular summer destination for fishermen and tourists, with more than 2,000 visitors on some days.
In about 1970, the Indian Health Service (IHS) constructed a small reservoir, pumping plant, and treatment facility to provide domestic water to Reservation inhabitants and to the campgrounds, R.V. parks, and motels used by tourists. That supply is now insufficient to meet demand during late summer dry periods in many years. The water supply also suffers from water quality problems during the high rain and runoff period and during low flow periods. The Makah Tribe has placed a moratorium on new housing and businesses on the reservation until the water supply problem can be resolved.
Developing a groundwater supply would improve the reliability of water supplies, provide more consistent water quality, and eliminate the need to perform expensive rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plant. However, investigations undertaken by the Tribe, Reclamation and the Indian Health Service have been unable to locate an adequate groundwater supply. Thus, the Tribe and IHS asked Reclamation to investigate all water sources on or near the Reservation to identify a long-term community water supply source.
Reclamation undertook hydrologic studies to quantify surface water supplies that may be available for use on the Reservation. As a result of these studies, several alternatives were developed that would meet current and future water demands.
Makah Study Update
In April 2002 an appraisal report was published describing the alternatives in detail, including estimated costs and potential environmental and social impacts. The report recommends that a feasibility study be initiated to more fully investigate the alternatives and identify a preferred plan. Largely through the efforts of the Makah Tribe, Public Law 107-142 was enacted by Congress and signed by the President on February 12, 2002. This law provides Reclamation with the authority to conduct a water supply feasibility study for the Makah Reservation. While appropriations are being sought for the feasibility study, Reclamation continues to work with the Tribe on water supply issues. In particular, through its research and technology program, Reclamation has proposed a pilot water treatment project that would evaluate potential water supply sources and identify the most appropriate treatment methods for those sources.
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