Twin_Peaks_Townie

Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_ivh7fat wrote

Reply to Snoqualmie Falls update - 2 weeks since the rain returned by Twin_Peaks_Townie

Video clip to see the flow rate change over the past two weeks. https://youtu.be/diREBnIFUDc

Edit: One very important note regarding drone use at the Falls. Raptor nesting season begins in early spring and goes through the end of June. Absolutely no drones should be flown during this time. PSE has signs up everywhere informing you that UAS use on their property is prohibited. I was not on PSE property when I took this shot.

Also, I communicated with the Snoqualmie Tribe about a set of restrictions, which were designed to be as minimally intrusive as possible before flying here. Don't fly here unless you ask beforehand, and absolutely do not fly over the plunge pool.

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_itjxgk1 wrote

Reply to comment by wpnw in A sight for sore eyes after the last few weeks here in the Snoqualmie Valley by Twin_Peaks_Townie

You have some good points about how other areas of the cascades have glacial reserves to keep the rivers flowing, but the point that I was making is that this is the point that you can see and measure what the available water still is on the soil, since almost everything coming in has not been replenished since the end of June.

It’s not a “point of no return”, but it’s a reasonable benchmark to see how long and intense our summers are by how low the water flow is at Snoqualmie Falls at the end of summer.

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_itj897r wrote

Reply to comment by cheekabowwow in A sight for sore eyes after the last few weeks here in the Snoqualmie Valley by Twin_Peaks_Townie

To be fair there are a lot of signs at the Falls Observation Decks that say “no drones”. Legally you can fly one if you launch from the upper parking lot, or any other place we’re you can maintain visual line of sight while getting your shot. If there’s one thing that Reddit loves, it’s letting someone know that they are wrong. So, a disclaimer like this is absolutely warranted, given the likelihood that an uncertified drone pilot could be launching, operating, and landing from the observation decks.

I am actually glad that this restriction is in place at PSE, because you have to do your due diligence in order to comply with the regulations.

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_itifjlg wrote

Reply to comment by zombieinferno in A sight for sore eyes after the last few weeks here in the Snoqualmie Valley by Twin_Peaks_Townie

Yup, the lack of rain is very concerning. My original intent with getting this picture was to capture the water level on the day the rain came back and do a comparison in a few weeks when we normally have flooding.

Here's a shot that I got on March 1st when we were at peak waterflow.
The Salmon obviously will never make it up the falls with or without the hydroelectric plant being there, but the water flow is a benchmark to measure the health of Washington Cascades. If the water flow for the Snoqualmie River (which is fed from as far north as Lenox Mountain, and as far east as Snoqualmie Pass), only produces this little amount of water over the falls, then our beautiful forests and the wildlife are in for big trouble in the coming years.

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_iti4k2b wrote

Reply to A sight for sore eyes after the last few weeks here in the Snoqualmie Valley by Twin_Peaks_Townie

Before I get hate for this picture I want to clarify three things.

1.) I did not take this picture from Puget Sound Energy property (where the no drones signs are posted everywhere).

2.) Peregrine Falcon nesting season doesn't start until early spring.

3.) Before launching my drone I coordinated with the Snoqualmie Tribe about a set of restrictions that allow safe and non-disruptive flight. I made sure that the tribe knows that on the rare occasion I fly over there, that it's done in a respectful manner. The drone flies above the river then entire time.

I've very aware of the signs posted everywhere, and who has what authority over the airspace.

Edit: Spelling and grammar

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_itaitxz wrote

Reply to comment by Hyperobjeckt in Spotted in Snoqualmie… looks like I found my write-in candidate for Senator. by Twin_Peaks_Townie

Lol! I could totally see how you might think that. (Un)fortunately downtown Snoqualmie is super small, so you get to know pretty much everyone around here. He put up signs at all the local watering holes, and the brewery was a prime spot since it’s a place that the locals as well as tourists flock to. But in this case, the sign went up here because it’s a spot that the other locals will undoubtedly see.

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Twin_Peaks_Townie OP t1_it9ds49 wrote

Reply to comment by bloodfist in Spotted in Snoqualmie… looks like I found my write-in candidate for Senator. by Twin_Peaks_Townie

Have had the pleasure of sharing several with him. He's a great guy and big part of the very small Downtown Snoqualmie community. He's a big gear head and has helped lots of the locals with car repairs and maintenance. If he ever wanted to run for city council I guarantee he'd win.

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