News Release Archive

Yakima Basin Water Supply - March Forecast Released

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

For Release: March 07, 2013

YAKIMA, Wash. - The Bureau of Reclamation's March 2013 Total Water Supply Available (TWSA) forecast for the Yakima Basin indicates that there will be a full water supply for both senior and junior water rights.

"At this time the water supply for the basin is expected to be near to slightly below normal." said Yakima Project River Operations Supervisor Chuck Garner. "February snowfall was below average until a series of storms hit the Cascades bringing amounts closer to normal. We're anticipating spring conditions will have a significant impact on the final water supply."

Reclamation will present water supply forecasts monthly through July. Specific water delivery levels will not be determined until later in the year after reservoir storage begins to decline.

The March TWSA forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage as of March 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. Other future weather conditions that determine the timing of the run-off and the demand for water are also critical in determining streamflows, prorationing, and the extent to which the reservoirs fill.

"The Yakima Basin weather outlook is favorable and the reservoir system storage on March 1st was a healthy 122 percent of average," Garner said. "We expect the reservoirs to fill and the runoff to provide for early season demands."

In the event that spring precipitation is unfavorable and runoff is below average, there still should be an adequate supply, but since weather conditions can be unpredictable at times Garner recommends that water conservation always be a consideration in the Yakima Basin.

For more information visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima