Yakima River water supply looks good for irrigation season

The Yakima River should have enough water supply in the coming irrigation season to fully satisfy both senior and junior water rights, the Bureau of Reclamation said in its latest forecast released Thursday.

“The snow pack and reservoir storage will provide nicely for this season’s demands,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor, in a statement.

The water forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snow pack and reservoir storage as of April 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows.

Snow melt timing, summer weather and irrigation demands are still important unknown factors that can influence stream flow levels and the carry-over storage at the end of the season, Garner said.

But even if spring precipitation and runoff are below normal, the Bureau of Reclamation still expects an adequate supply. Water users are still encouraged to practice conservation.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Yakima River water supply looks good for irrigation season."