The Icicle Strategy Mission
The Icicle Creek Work Group (IWG) seeks to increase community and ecological resiliency through implementing collaborative solutions (Icicle Strategy) for water management within the Icicle Creek drainage to provide a suite of balanced benefits for existing and new domestic and agricultural uses, non-consumptive uses, fish, wildlife, and habitat while protecting treaty and non-treaty fishing interests.
Icicle Work Group highlighted on KBTC’s Northwest Now!
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Icicle Strategy Origin Story
The Icicle Work Group showcases the power of collaboration among diverse stakeholders in addressing water resource management challenges in the Icicle Watershed. Through cooperation and innovative projects, the group strives to ensure a healthy watershed with sufficient water for all users.
How The Icicle Creek Works
Icicle Creek, located in central Washington, plays a vital role in supporting various forms of life and local economies, including fish populations, agriculture, and tourism. However, the creek faces challenges due to limited water resources, increasing demand, and climate change, which results in smaller snowpacks and reduced water flow during the summer months.
The Big Goal
The Icicle Work Group (IWG) aims to achieve a minimum flow rate of 100 cubic feet per second (CFS) in Icicle Creek during normal years and 60 CFS during drought years to meet the water needs of various users, including fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration. To reach this goal, the group focuses on three main strategies: water conservation, storage in reservoirs, and habitat restoration, with a long-term goal of achieving a 250 CFS minimum flow rate.
Conservation
The Icicle Work Group has been collaborating with various stakeholders to implement water conservation strategies in the Icicle Watershed. These efforts include improving irrigation infrastructure, adopting efficient water usage methods, and utilizing modern technology to minimize water waste, ultimately ensuring a sustainable supply of water for the environment and local communities.
Storage
The management of water resources in Icicle Creek presents various challenges, including the utilization of Alpine Lakes as reservoirs and the exploration of automation to enhance efficiency. The consequences of climate change on water availability highlight the necessity for sustainable solutions while also preserving the untouched wilderness environment.
Habitat Improvement
The Icicle Work Group is dedicated to restoring and improving the habitat in Icicle Creek for aquatic life, with a focus on fish populations. They implement various projects, such as riparian plantings, habitat improvements, and the installation of modern fish screens at water diversions, to ensure a sustainable future for both the ecosystem and local communities.