Yakima Reservoirs 76% Full, but Snowpack at 33% of Average

It's going to be a water short year for many growers in the Yakima valley and that's not good news this early in the year.  The Bureau of Reclamation has released the March 2026 total water supply forecast for the Yakima basin and it shows there won't be enough water to "fully meet irrigation demands this season."

JUNIOR WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS WON'T EVEN GET A 50% SUPPLY

Reclamation officials, in a news release say the early estimate for total water supply for the April-September growing period shows senior water rights holders will get 100% full entitlements. However those with junior water rights will receive only 44% of their total water supply.

READ MORE: WHY ARE WE IN YAKIMA STILL CHANGING CLOCKS?

RESERVOIR STORAGE IS UP BUT SNOWPACK IS DOWN

According to a news release storage in the Yakima basin reservoirs on March 1 was 76% full with 806,000 acre-feet, which is 128% of average. Reclamation officials say precipitation for February was 51% of average and for October–February was 107% of average. On March 1, the amount of water in the snowpack, known as snow water equivalent, was 33% of average.

THE FIRST OF MANY FORECASTS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER

The Bureau has the job of managing water in five Yakima Project storage reservoirs. The news release says water shortages in the basin are shared equally by the junior water rights, which represent over half of the water rights in the basin.
This forecast is the first of many that will come this spring and summer monthly through July. This March forecast is based on information and reservoir storage as of March 1.