News Release Archive

Yakima Basin Water Supply for Mid-July Slightly Improved

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
David Murillo, dmurillo@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: July 19, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the mid July 2005 forecast for irrigation water supply, according to David Murillo, Yakima Project Manager. The mid-July 2005 water supply outlook has improved slightly from July 1. 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 41 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 continues to be between 35 percent and 44 percent of full supply with the adopted rationing level at 41 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, approximately one month earlier than average. Total storage reached 869,986 acre-ft, which is 82 percent of full capacity. Reservoir storage July 18, 2005

Reservoir Content (acre-ft) Total Capacity Percent of Capacity Keechelus 59,930 157,800 38 percent Kachess 137,176 239,000 57 percent Cle Elum 199,129 436,900 46 percent Bumping 28,384 33,970 84 percent Rimrock 191,775 198,000 97 percent Totals 616,394 1,065,400 58 percent

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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.