With Irrigation Season Approaching, Central Washington Is Dry

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 acknowledged there’s still time before the irrigation season.

“I can tell you that, you know, we have the Bureau of Reclamation that operates five Yakima Basin reservoirs," Mattson said.  "Those reservoirs have 40% in them right now of what’s typical at this time of year. And that’s, I can tell you, that’s among some of the lowest levels in the last 50 years.

“The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that the prorateable water users, these are kind of the junior irrigation districts in the basin here, will have 48% of their normal water supply," he continued.  "So, yeah, I mean, if you’re a farmer, and you’re told, well, you get half the water you’re used to, that’s significant.”

Fortunately, Mattson said there is one more source out there that the Northwest relies on.

“We do refer to that snowpack in the Cascades as the sixth reservoir, right? We’ve got the five Bureau reservoirs, and that sixth one is the snowpack itself. You know, I’ve seen some forecasts for March and April. Again, these are just prognostications and predictions right, but they look positive. They look wet, both snow and rain, but yeah, we’re behind,” Mattson said.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com