Eureka Plains Watershed, California

Created By: Shannon Hastings, Matthew Kellish,

Alexandra Metcalfe, Alexander Pierce and Neal Scheuermann
DCC 400.1

Abstract
This project presents the results of Eureka Plains
Watershed usage to determine if the areas water
consumption is sustainable or if there is a deficit. We
calculated Eurekas domestic, agricultural and industrial
water usage and subtracted it from the total water
collected in the shed. This determined that Eureka has a
surplus of water per year, which refuted our hypothesis.
5,057,440

247,575,120

Results and Conclusions

According to our previous knowledge from class, we hypothesize that

the Eureka Plains Watershed in Eureka, California will have a water
deficit because of the states drought.

Based on the data analyzed, Eureka has a surplus of water

available to them. This is unlike most other parts of
California, but is due to their high percentage of rainfall.
Their current practices are working efficiently, but here
are some recommendations to further decrease their
areas water usage:
-Create a water quota for households and if they use less
than or equal to the specified amount, allow them a tax
break or cash incentive.
-Water lawns at night only.
-Use water-efficient washers and dishwashers. A waterefficient clothes washer can save up to 16 gallons per
load.
-Install low-flow shower heads. This can save up to 12.5
gallons per 5 minute shower.
-Install aerators on faucets. This can save up to 1.2 gallons
of water per person per day.
-Install efficient toilets. This can save up to 19 gallons per
day.
In essence, this watershed does not have a deficit, which
refutes our hypothesis.

Procedure and Methods

Step 1 Find Average
Precipitation
per year

Total Water Use Per Year (G)

4,687,695 2,175,400

Hypothesis

Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Horses

Introduction
In January 2014, Governor Jerry Brown of California
asked Californians to reduce their water usage by 20%
due to the states drought emergency status. California has
had to deal with droughts through out history. Their dry
seasons have caused many problems with sustaining
water for their population. Californias interconnected
water system serves over 30 million people residing in
the state and the state manages over 40,000,000 acre-feet
of water per year. Currently 80% of the state is in an
extreme or exceptional drought. Since the state of
emergency California state senate, for the first time,
passed two bills to regulate groundwater. This shows that
California has been using its water inefficiently and
should have taken more of a precaution in previous years
to ensure it never reached the state it is in now. Today
more than ever, innovative water-creating strategies are
needed to close the gap between Californias water supply
and how much water Californians consume.

Step 2 Find Total of

Water Used by
population per
year
Step 3 Find How much
of the
Population is
on septic
Step 4 Find How much
Water is used
on Farm
Animals

Step 5 Find How much

Water is Used
for Crops

Step 6 Find
Commercial
Water Usage
Step 7 Find Industrial
Water Usage
Step 8 Calculate Net
Water Use

Average Precipitation Per Year in watershed =

=
521356800gd*233 square miles = 116262.5664mgd
Water used by population per year =
=
134492 * 90 * 365.25 = 4421.08827mgd
Average water used by septic per year =
Population on Septic * Water Discharge
=
83434 * 68.2 = 5.6901988mgd
Average Farm Animal Water Usage per year =
(Farm Animal Population per animal * Animal Water Use
per Day per animal)= All animal Water Usages per day *
365.25)
=
710,947.00*365.25 = 259.50mgd
Average Crop Water Usage per year=
Crop Acres * Water use per Acre per day* 365.25 =
1045.656466 * 6 * 365.25
=
261.79mgd
Average Commercial Water Usage per Year =
20mgd
Average Industrial Water Usage per Year =
60mgd
Step 1 Total Step 2 Total + Step 3 Total Step 4 Total
Step 5 Total-Step 6 Total Step 7 Total =
116262.5664 - 4421.08827 + 5.6901988 - 259.50 261.79
20 60
=
111.505.38mgd

The Chart to the right shows

Californias varying levels of
drought. Eureka is indicated
by the black arrow.