Drought, drought, gone away with new water forecast

YAKIMA, Wash. — That's one drought bullet dodged.

What looked to be a tense water year just two months ago all but disappeared under a rain gusher that should see all Yakima Irrigation Project farmers have an adequate supply this summer.

Rationing still is anticipated for holders of junior water rights, but the figure is small and shouldn't pose problems for irrigation districts, managers said.

Junior users who account for more than half the water used in the basin annually are projected to receive 90 percent of a full supply, the federal Bureau of Reclamation announced Monday.

The figure is a far cry from the 71 percent forecast in April.

Ken Hasbrouck, manager of one of those junior districts, the 59,000-acre Kittitas Reclamation District in Ellensburg, said he expects his Timothy hay-dominated district should have water for a full season.

"We are good for the year," he said after federal water managers issued the forecast at the bureau's Terrace Heights office. "There will be water for September and October. That had been a concern."

Tom Monroe, manager of the Roza Irrigation District, said the combination of rain and lower demand should allow the 72,000-acre district to deliver water without rationing to each farm.

His only caveat would be a run of hot weather that would put pressure on the district's supply.

The Roza delivers water from near Terrace Heights to east of Prosser in Benton County.

Rationing won't be imposed until the five major reservoirs must be relied on to meet downstream demand, a date that could be reached by June 20, according to Chris Lynch, bureau water engineer.

Under all scenarios, holders of senior water rights -- those obtained prior to 1905 -- will have a full supply.

Heavy rainfall in April and May helped turn around the water forecast. Precipitation in May at the five reservoirs in the Cascades was more than twice of the normal. Farmers didn't need as much water because of the cool, rainy weather, which helped continue to build storage.

What's left of the mountain snowpack hung around longer that usual during May.

"That leaves more snow to melt later in the summer and improves the water supply from here on out," commented Chuck Garner, the bureau's river operations supervisor.

Water storage has inched above normal for the first time this season. The five lakes held 950,000 acre-feet of water as of Monday.

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.