DOE: Drought Concerns Remain In Central Washington

Yakima Basin water users will receive their full water supply through October 20th, but drought concerns remain.

Thursday's announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation that both senior and junior water rights holders will receive 100% of their normal October supply means no basin-wide restrictions on surface water use. The Washington Department of Ecology noted the sharp turnaround from last year, when reservoirs ran dry and drought forced restrictions across the entire region.

DOE said despite a 4th consecutive year of drought, full reservoirs, timely late-summer rain and lower irrigation demand improved conditions. However, restrictions remain on some tributaries due to low flows.

Water users can check current restrictions by visiting the state’s Yakima Basin Water Supply Webpage and searching by address, parcel or water right number. Officials with Ecology stressed last week long-term water supply projects and regional partnerships remain critical as warmer winters threaten future snowpack and streamflows.

Ecology is also asking those with water rights they don't plan on using to Contact DOE to find out how to protect it. In some cases, you can get paid for voluntarily not using water during drought.

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