News Release Archive

Yakima Basin Water Supply Mid June Release

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, 06/17/2005 19:54
David Murillo, dmurillo@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 17, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Mid June 2005 forecast for irrigation water supply, according to David Murillo, Yakima Project Manager. The Mid June 2005 forecast has improved slightly from the June 1, water supply forecast. Contributing factors continue to indicate a very short water supply for junior users even if precipitation for the remainder of the season is average.

Rationing has been in effect since April 6, 2005.

Senior water rights holders will receive their full water supply. The adopted prorationing level for junior users is listed below:

Adopted prorationing level: 40 percent of full supply.

Future weather conditions including precipitation and temperature will influence the timing and extent of the natural run-off as well as the demand for water, the reservoir storage, the amount of water available for irrigation, and the rationing level. Because of these unknown future conditions and uncertainty in the basin conditions, the Yakima Field Office provides a likely range for the total water supply available estimate and the associated rationing level. The estimated range for the rationing level is between 34 percent and 47 percent of full supply with the adopted rationing level at 40 percent of full supply for junior, pro-rated, entitlements. The total water supply available will be adjusted bi-weekly or as needed to reflect changing conditions. Post-1905 water rights have been curtailed since April 6th.

The water supply can be improved through prudent use of water. Please conserve water!

The Yakima Basin Storage System began drafting and went on storage control on May 25, 2005, approximately one month earlier than average. Total storage reached 869,986 acre-ft, which is 82 percent of full capacity.

Reservoir storage, Midnight June 16, 2005