YAKIMA BASIN WATER SUPPLY - MARCH FORECAST

Pacific Northwest Region
Boise, Idaho
Media Contact: John Redding (208) 378-5212 Chuck Garner (509) 575-5848 ext. 205
Released On: March 08, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation has just released the March 2007 forecast for irrigation water supply in the Yakima Basin. The forecast is based on flow data, current snow pack, and this year's precipitation data.

"We are expecting a near normal or above normal water supply at this time," said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project river operations supervisor. "The March 2007 forecast indicates a full water supply for all water users."

As of March 1, system storage was a healthy 116 percent of average at 66 percent full.
"We are very encouraged by the current snow pack and reservoir storage. We do hope the snowmelt runoff comes a little more slowly than it did last year," Garner said.

At this time both junior and senior water rights holders are expected to receive their full water supply. Specific water delivery levels will not be determined until later in the year.

The weather conditions that determine precipitation, the run-off timing, and demand for water are critical in determining whether the reservoirs fill, the amount of water available for irrigation, and possible rationing levels. If warm, dry weather prompts an early run-off, the situation could degrade.

Water demands requiring storage releases, even prior to storage control, may be charged to the users' total entitlement.

Reservoir storage on March 1, 2007