Availability and potential uses of water in the Puget Sound

Predicting the availability and potential uses of water in the Puget Sound is an important aspect of regional water supply managers. The CRYSTAL Model was developed to serve this purpose. The model concentrates on water supply and instream flow needs for the cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett. This model integrates the separate water supply systems to better utilize existing regional resources, viewing the Puget Sound as one watershed. The goal of the model is to illustrate the value and opportunities of a regional approach to water management, for example, in meeting the needs of both fish and people, or the future impacts of accelerated population growth, or the impacts of water rate adjustments on consumption.