Yup. It’s that ol’ annual reminder to us all to be good water stewards.
Recent “repair fun” at MWC (as many of you saw from those posts) was a good cue that while we do have wells if for any reason we cannot produce drinking water from Musser and Jarvis Creek, they don’t produce enough H2O to allow for landscape watering.
In fact, our primary mission here at Markleeville Water Company is to produce water for domestic use (i.e. drinking water, water for cooking, bathing, and so on). It’s not to produce water for irrigation; that’s a side benefit.
For most of the last 60+ years that our little water company has been in existence, we’ve all had the benefit of what seemed to be an endless water supply. Nowadays, however, we’ve all seen the proverbial writing on the wall: times they are a changing.
There’s less snow. That’s expected to become the new pattern here in the Sierra, and so our “water bank” isn’t, and likely will never be, what it used to be. That change will have a long-term impact on how we manage our water resources – really it already has – and not just here in the Sierra.
Since 2022 we’ve had these water use rules and guidelines in effect, and we appreciate the fact that each and every one of us has, for the most part, been adhering to them. THANK YOU!
As the climate warms, and familiar patterns become unfamiliar, it’s even more important today that we conserve when and where we can.
Hence this annual reminder to continue to follow our guidelines, plant drought tolerant plants (or go with rock gardens perhaps – we grow rocks here too in Markleeville so that’s easy), be cognizant of landscaping additions, and use mulch wherever and whenever possible.
Those of us who volunteer on the water company board take our jobs very seriously and are grateful for the opportunity to keep our water flowing. In order to keep doing that though, we’re counting on your continued support.
Please remain good water stewards. “Represent” to your friends, family, neighbors, and renters (short or long-term), and stay tuned to our website for water alerts.
Together, we can keep our water flowing for generations to come!
Markleeville Water Company 