'This is unprecedented:' Ecology restricts surface water use in the Yakima River Basin

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/business/this-is-unprecedented-ecology-restricts-surface-water-use-in-the-yakima-river-basin/article_0bb04d83-a505-474c-b828-6458df0cf13f.html

'This is unprecedented:' Ecology restricts surface water use in the Yakima River Basin

QUESTEN INGHRAM Yakima Herald-Republic Oct 2, 2025

In a rare move, all surface water rights holders in the Yakima River Basin will see their water curtailed due to lack of available water.

The Washington Department of Ecology is ordering a halt to surface water use from Oct. 6 through the end of October, according to a news release.

Record-low reservoir storage and poor stream flows as the basin suffered a third year of drought conditions led up to the decision, which Ecology calls a necessary step to preserve water for fish and the most senior water rights. Available water is expected to run out on Oct. 6.
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Relatively senior districts, which typically have seen most of their allotment even during the recent drought years, also will be shutting down. The Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District will begin dewatering the Sunnyside canal on Oct. 5 in preparation for an Oct. 6 shutoff. Some laterals and deliveries may have water for a few days beyond that date as the canal is draining. The Yakima Tieton Irrigation District shut down Oct. 1.

The Yakama Nation holds the most senior of water rights, dating back to the Treaty of 1855, which is delivered through the Wapato Irrigation Project.

But even that water will have to shut down early as well, said Phil Rigdon, superintendent of Yakama Nation's Department of Natural Resources.

Total system storage of the Yakima Project's five reservoirs was at 8%, among the lowest on record, on Oct. 1.

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