Yakima Valley Water Forecast Shows Month-Over-Month Improvement

It appears the July’s average temperatures helped out Yakima Valley irrigators.  The Bureau of Reclamation released its August Total Water Supply forecast for the Yakima basin Friday.  That reports shows the water supply will fully satisfy senior water rights through this irrigation season.  In addition, junior water rights will receive an estimated 69% of their entitlements through the end of September.

That is a 2% increase from July’s forecast.

“The moderate temperatures and precipitation at our reservoirs at 84% of average in July helped stream flows hold up fairly well,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. Garner recommends that water conservation always be a part of water usage in the Yakima basin, especially this season with the low water supply.

The August forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage through August 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows.

For more information, visit Reclamation’s website.

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