YAKIMA, Wash. - The Bureau of Reclamation announced that the Yakima basin water supply will fully satisfy senior water rights. Junior water rights will receive an estimated 92% of their entitlements based on the June 2020 total water supply available forecast.
“May snowpack was below average all month and the snow will likely melt out earlier than normal," said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. “This early depletion of the snowpack will lead to reservoirs using water earlier than normal."
The June forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage as of June 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. The Yakima Field office evaluates several runoff forecasts provided by other water resource agencies in its development. Future weather conditions that determine the timing of the runoff and the demand for water also are critical in determining stream flows, prorations and the extent to which the reservoirs fill.
For more information, visit Reclamation’s website at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
