Reclamation announces Yakima Basin water supply – July forecast
Media Contact: Christine Schuldheisz, 208-378-5212, cschuldheisz@usbr.gov
For Release: July 09, 2020
YAKIMA, Wash. – The Bureau of Reclamation announced that the Yakima Basin water supply will fully satisfy senior water rights. Junior water rights will receive up to 100% of entitlements based on the July 2020 total water supply available forecast. This is an improvement from the June water supply estimate.
“The high elevation snowpack provided enough inflows to fill three of the five Yakima System reservoirs, while also meeting downstream demands,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor.
The July forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage as of July 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. The Yakima Field office evaluates several runoff forecasts provided by other water resource agencies in its development. Future weather conditions that determine the timing of the runoff and the demand for water also are critical in determining stream flows, prorations and the extent to which the reservoirs fill.
For more information, visit Reclamation’s website at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima.
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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.
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