Yakima Basin water supply 'near normal'

System storage above average for region, water officials say

Samantha Graf
Capital Press
March 19, 2009

Farmers who receive irrigation water from the Yakima Basin are sitting pretty when it comes to this year's supply, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

"We are expecting a near-normal water supply at this time," Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor, said in a press release. "The March 2009 forecast indicates a full water supply for all water users."

System storage was 76 percent full and 138 percent of average, according to Reclamation.

The forecast is based on flow data, snowpack and precipitation.

At this time both junior and senior water rights holders are expected to receive their full water supply, according to Reclamation.

"The reservoir storage is well above average, but the current snowpack is lagging behind the average," Garner said. "We expect the snowmelt runoff to be sufficient to fill the reservoirs. ... If spring precipitation and runoff are unfavorable, we may have a below average but adequate supply."

If warm weather induces an early snowmelt and dry conditions prevail the situation could worsen, according to Reclamation.

The Yakima Basin is composed of five reservoirs that can hold 1,065,400 acre feet of water. The reservoir system currently holds 807,212 acre feet.

A typical apple orchard uses 146,360 gallons of water per acre per year, according to the horticulture department at University of California, Davis. An acre foot of water is 325,851.4 gallons.

Specific water delivery levels will not be determined until later in the year.

The Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District was to begin priming the system on Thursday, March 19, with a delivery scheduled for April 1 and isn't expecting any rationing, said Jim Trull, the district manager.

"We're really pleased to have a normal water supply," said Trull. "It is much easier to operate with full water capacity."

The district serves 99,244 irrigable acres in the Yakima Valley.

Staff writer Samantha Graf is based in Grandview, Wash. E-mail: sgraf@capitalpress.com.