News Release Archive

Yakima Basin Water Supply - April Forecast Released

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

For Release: April 08, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the April 2008, forecast for irrigation water supply in the Yakima Basin. The forecast is based on flow data, the snowpack, and precipitation data.

"We are expecting a normal to above normal water supply at this time," said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. "The April 2008 forecast indicates a full water supply for all water users."

As of April 1, system storage was 46 percent full and 75 percent of average.

"The cool March weather has left the snow pack in place and above average but has also kept the stream flows and reservoirs very low for this time of year. We could use a little warming right now just to bring stream flows and reservoirs up closer to seasonal norms," 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.

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

Reservoir storage on April 1, 2008

Reservoir Content (acre-ft) Total Capacity percent of Capacity Keechelus 69,443 157,800 44 Kachess 155,310 239,000 65 Cle Elum 143,456 436,900 33 Bumping 4,818 33,700 14 Rimrock 122,281 198,000 62 Totals 495,308 1,065,400 46

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