YAKIMA, Wash. - The Bureau of Reclamation’s June 2021 total water supply available forecast for the Yakima basin indicates the water supply will satisfy all senior and junior water rights this irrigation season.
“Precipitation in May was again below average. However, there is enough water stored in snowpack and the reservoirs have normal to above normal storage which should provide sufficient supply for all the users," said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor.
Reclamation manages the water in the five Yakima Project storage reservoirs, along with the basin’s unregulated inflows to fulfill water rights, water contracts and instream flow obligations. Water shortages in the basin are shared equally by the junior water rights, which represent over half of the water rights in the basin.
Reclamation will provide an updated water supply forecast monthly-at least through July-using the latest data each month to reflect any changing conditions as they develop.
The June water supply forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage as of June 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. Other future weather conditions that determine the timing of the runoff and the demand for water also are critical in determining stream flows, pro-ration rates and the extent to which the reservoirs fill.
“The forecasts for central Washington indicate a hotter and drier than normal summer. Therefore, we must manage the water carefully. Despite the third month with dry conditions, the snow and reservoir storage still appear adequate to meet normal demands," said Garner.
For more information, visit Reclamation’s website at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
