Bureau forecasts sufficient water supply for Yakima

YAKIMA — The Bureau of Reclamation announced Wednesday that there is enough water to meet demand from all senior and junior holders of water rights in the Yakima Project.

According to the Bureau, the snowpack which feeds the Yakima Project — which provides water to roughly 464,000 acres of land in Franklin, Benton, Yakima and Kittitas counties — was measured at about 115% in the upper Yakima sub-basin and 101% in the Naches sub-basin on May 1, with total project reservoir storage has been measured at 926,473 acre feet — 116% of average and 87% full.

The May forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage as of May 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows, the Bureau said in a press release. USBR will update its monthly water supply forecasts at least through July, the press release stated.

Should water supplies fall short of demand, junior rights holders share the water cuts equally, the Bureau said.