News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Yakima August Water Supply Forecast

Media Contact: John Redding , (208) 378-5212
Kate Puckett

For Release: August 05, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation has just released the August 2004 forecast for irrigation water supply according to David Murillo, Yakima Project Manager. The August 2004 forecast indicates a full water supply for senior water right users and an 86 percent supply for junior water right users. Rationing, which became effective on June 16, will be at the following rate for the proratable users only: Adopted Prorationing Level  86 percent supply for junior users.

The tight water supply will result in low carryover at the end of the 2004 season. Natural flows are low compared to average so the reservoirs are providing a large share of the system supply. Current system storage is 56 percent of capacity and 84 percent of average. The Title XII target flow at the Yakima River near Parker gaging station is 300 cubic feet per second.

Reservoir storage on August 5

Reservoir Content (acre-ft) Total Capacity % of Capacity

Keechelus

54,855

157,800

35

Kachess

135,238

239,000

57

Cle Elum

198,192

436,900

45

Bumping

26,064

33,700

77

Rimrock

185,690

198,000

94

Totals

600,039

1,065,400

56

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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.