Feds predict less water for Tri-Cities irrigation this summer. Tips for a healthy lawn

Some irrigators depending on water from the Yakima River will not get all the water included in the water rights they own this summer, the Bureau of Reclamation forecasts.

It says that while those with senior, or the oldest, water rights should get 100% of their entitlement, those with junior water rights might get just 86%.

Over half of the water rights in the Basin are held by junior water rights holders, or those with claims after May 1905.

The Kennewick Irrigation District is grouped with junior water right holders, but it gets the irrigation water that returns to the Yakima River between the Parker Gauge downriver from Union Gap and Prosser Dam.

Historically, it has gotten somewhat more water than the percentage available for holders of junior water rights.

The amount should be adequate this year, said Seth Defoe, KID’s land and water resources manager. Some reduction in junior water rights is not unusual, he said.

But KID members should be mindful of their water use and conserve when they can, Defoe said.

The snowpack that will feed the Yakima River as it melts holds 99% of what is the average amount of water, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

But the five Yakima Project storage reservoirs in the Washington Cascade Mountains were only a little more than half full on May 1, which is 76% of average, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

Precipitation in April was 112% of average, but precipitation was only 75% of average for October to April.

The Bureau of Reclamation forecasts the water supply based on river and creek flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage, along with estimates of future precipitation, river flows and irrigation return.

Factors such as the weather in the coming months and the timing of runoff could change the water available for irrigation.

KID is keeping an eye on weather patterns, after three La Niña years.

La Niña conditions usually mean cooler and wetter weather, with a stronger pattern the first two of those three years for the Tri-Cities.

But now El Niño conditions are possible for May through July, which could mean warmer and drier conditions.

Conserve irrigation water

To help conserve irrigation water and still get good results watering lawns and gardens this summer, KID offers these tips:

▪ Train your lawn to be drought resistant with deep roots by watering only every third day, but for longer periods. Information on training lawns is posted at bit.ly/3nxkjto.

▪ Use drip irrigation where possible. Delivering the water slower and in smaller doses directly at the plant’s root can save as much as 50% to 70% of misting. Runoff, wind drift and evaporation are also minimized this way.

▪ Use a watering can or a hose with a close-off valve or sprayer when you hand water.

▪ Allow your grass to grow a little longer before cutting. Longer blades block out the sun, which shades grass roots and retains moisture.

▪ Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.

▪ Mulch lawn clippings back into your grass or use them in your garden. Decaying grass clippings add moisture and nutrients back into the yard, which then requires less water.

▪ Turn off the sprinklers in rainy or windy conditions.

▪ Check sprinklers to make sure they aren’t watering streets and sidewalks.