Reclamation: Junior Rights Holders Will Get 77% Of Their Water This Season

It’s starting to dry out across the Northwest, and the Bureau of Reclamation is starting to take note.  Reclamation released its April Total Water Supply Forecast for the Yakima Basin Thursday, indicating senior water rights holders will get their complete allotment of water this irrigation season.

“March precipitation fell short of expectations and has reduced the water supply,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. “The Yakima basin reservoir storage is currently 78% of average, and the snowpack is 75% of average.”

Reclamation will provide water supply forecasts monthly through July. Specific water delivery levels will be determined later in the year after reservoir storage is released to meet demands.

The April forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage as of April 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. Other future weather conditions that determine the timing of the snowmelt and the demand for water also are critical in determining streamflows, prorations and the extent to which the reservoirs fill.

“We have seen many years where April 1 conditions were below normal, but the basin water conditions improved in the spring,” said Garner.

Because longer term weather conditions can be unpredictable, Garner recommends water conservation always be a part of water usage in the Yakima basin.

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