Groundwater Projects
The Groundwater Characterization Project's objectives of this are to fully describe the groundwater hydrology of the Reservation, the interactions between groundwater and surface water, and to integrate this information into management tools, including a numerical model, monitoring plan, and resource protection policies and ordinances. This project is an ongoing study. The numerical models will be updated as new data is incorporated since the data acquisition will be continuous. Some of our data sources include: stream flow; precipitation; monitoring well water level; mass well water level; and vegetation cover.
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Stream (Flume) Data
Four flumes are located on the Reservation, 3 in perennial creeks and 1 in an intermittent creek. These flumes record water level and discharge information on these creeks. The flume locations are sampled for conventional water parameters. |
Monitoring Wells
Six (6) monitoring wells are regularly sampled for water level. Each well taps a different aquifer giving us information about water quantity, an important factor in the GW model. |
| Water Level Monitors
Two (2) surface water level monitors are located in Reservation wetlands. Since the wetland's water surface is the groundwater table's representation on land, the water level of the wetland is important to our GW model. |
Precipitation
Precipitation is the most important factor in the GW model. All the water that recharges the Reservation's aquifers comes from rainfall. The Swinomish Weather Station records precipitation near the Swinoimsh Casino. |
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Vegetation Cover
Vegetation cover is another important factor which determines the amount of rainfall that reaches the ground as well as how much water is lost through evapotranspiration. We are producing GIS maps of vegetation coverage from aerial photos of the Reservation. |
Subsurface Borings
Subsurface borings involve the drilling of wells but not installation of wells. The drilling gives us information about the aquifers in areas not well understood. Samples of the aquifer materials are taken and analysed for aquifer characteristics. |
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The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is federally recognized and operates under Constitution and Bylaws adopted in 1936 pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
The Swinomish Tribe is committed to improving the lives and well being of the tribal members through social and cultural programs, education, economic development, and resource protection.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is located on Fidalgo Island (gateway to the San Juan Islands) in Skagit County of Washington State about 70 miles north of Seattle. The Planning Office is located across the Swinomish Channel from the town of LaConner.