The Bureau of Reclamation has just released the July 2004 forecast for irrigation water supply, according to David Murillo, Yakima Project Manager. The July 2004 forecast indicates a full water supply for senior water right users and an 82 percent supply for junior water right users. Rationing, which became effective on June 16, will be at the following rate for the proratable users only:
Adopted Prorationing Level - 82 percent supply for junior users.
The tight water supply will result in low carryover at the end of the 2004 season. Current system storage is 79 percent of capacity and 92 percent of average. The Title XII target flow at the Yakima River near Parker gaging station is 300 cubic-feet-per-second.
Reservoir storage on July 8
Reservoir Content (acre-ft) Total Capacity percent of Capacity
Keechelus 99,300 157,800 63
Kachess 156,540 239,000 65
Cle Elum 361,410 436,900 83
Bumping 32,004 33,700 95
Rimrock 195,730 198,000 99
Totals 844,984 1,065,400 79
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
