yakima basin

The Bureau of Reclamation is out with its first water supply forecast of the year, and it looks like the Yakima basin may have a challenging irrigation season ahead.  Reclamation’s March 2025 total water supply available forecast indicates the water supply will not fully meet irrigation demands this season.  The early est...

As of February 13th, the Washington Department of Ecology said it was too early to tell if enough snowpack had accumulated to lift the 2024 drought declaration.  Experts are concerned that at this point, it will take more snow than Washington will likely see before the spring to offset the dry conditions the state experienced last year.   ...

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...

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Reclamation announced its August 2024 forecast of total water supply available for the Yakima basin.  Those figures indicate the water supply will not fully meet irrigation demands this season.  The total water supply available for the May 21-September 30 period indicates senior water rights will receive 100% of full entitlements, while junior water rights will re

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 ...

It appears, that senior and junior water rights in the Yakima basin will be satisfied this irrigation season. According to the Bureau of Reclamation’s March 2022 total water supply forecast, precipitation was 113% of average from October to February and 100% of average for February. On ...

Early next month, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin its annual “flip-flop” operation. The effort it intended to aid in successful spawning and incubation of chinook salmon eggs and to improve winter reservoir storage in the Yakima basin. This mean ...

It’s not just dry in eastern Washington. Drought conditions west of the Cascades has prompted Whatcom County farmers to call of immediate action to protect fish and farming. Dillon Honcoop with Save Family Farming said isn’t not about not having enough water, but rather having enough water at the right time. He added ...

Earlier this month, Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, and California Representative John Garamendi introduced House Resolution 2979 which will amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014. Newhouse said the legislation will make public water projects eligible for low interest, long-term federal loans from the EPA. The ...

“Pretty Incredible” That’s how Scott Pattee with the Washington NRCS describes the statewide snowpack, which sits at 131% of average for this time of year, the highest statewide average across the west. Pattee noted the snow year started very slowly and didn’t catch up normal until February. He added that tempera ...