senior water rights

Water levels in central Washington are holding steady, but is it enough for everything that grows in our region? Let’s break it down.

With the irrigation season here, the Yakima basin's water forecast is looking better, but not great.

As spring approaches, a familiar concern looms in the Yakima Basin—water supply forecasts are painting a troubling picture for local farmers.

The Bureau of Reclamation is out with the latest water supply numbers for the Yakima basin in central Washington.

The water supply for central Washington continues to dwindle, and irrigation demands will not be met this season in the Yakima Basin.  The Bureau of Reclamation’s June Total Water Supply Available Forecast indicates senior water rights will receive 100% full entitlements, but junior water rights will only receive 43% of their full entitlements this year.  That is a  decreas...

The water outlook for the Columbia Basin isn’t looking great, but things could change.  Larry Mattson, Director at the Office of the Columbia River, said a drier-than-normal winter seems to have left the Northwest with water supplies lower than normal.  But he acknow...

The Bureau of Reclamation released its April total water supply available forecast for the Yakima basin, which shows little change in the anticipated water supply for the season ahead.  Like the March report, this month’s forecast indicates the water supply will not fully meet irrigation demands this season.  The estimate ...

The Bureau of Reclamation is out with its final Yakima Basin water supply forecast of the season.  The October forecast indicates the senior water rights will receive 100% of their full entitlements, but junior water rights will receive 0% of their entitlements, which means no additional water.  Any use...

The Bureau of Reclamation’s July water supply forecast in encouraging news for central Washington Growers.  According to Reclamation, the Yakima basin water supply will fully satisfy all senior and junior users this irrigation season.  June com...

Irrigation water should not be an issue in the Yakima Basin, at least according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau’s June 2022 total water supply available forecast indicates the water supply will fully satisfy all senior and junior users this irrigation season. Rec ...