News Release Archive

Yakima Basin Water Supply - June Forecast

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Chuck Garner, cgarner@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 07, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation has just released the June 2006, forecast for irrigation water supply in the Yakima Basin. The forecast is based on reservoir storage, flow data, and this year's snowpack and precipitation data.

"We are expecting a near normal water supply at this time," said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project river operations supervisor. "The June 2006 forecast indicates a full water supply for all water users."

As of June 1, system storage was 82 percent full and about 93 percent of average.

"The outlook continues to be favorable. We saw a lot of snowmelt runoff in the second half of May which benefited the reservoir storage but also used up some of the unregulated water supply a little early. Of course we must, as always, manage the water supply carefully" Garner said.

At this time both junior and senior water rights holders are expected to receive their full water supply. Specific water delivery levels will not be determined until later in the year.

The weather conditions that determine precipitation, the run-off timing, and demand for water are critical in determining whether the reservoirs fill, the amount of water available for irrigation, and possible rationing levels. If warm, dry weather increases the uncontrolled runoff in June and leads to heavy demand, the situation could change.

Water demands requiring storage releases, even prior to storage control, may be charged to the users' total entitlement.

Reservoir storage on June 1, 2006

Reservoir Content (acre-ft) Total Capacity percent of Capacity Keechelus 142,216 157,800 90 Kachess 152,263 239,000 64 Cle Elum 351,660 436,900 80 Bumping 32,852 33,970 97 Rimrock 196,330 198,000 99 Totals 875,321 1,065,400 82

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