October Water Supply Update - The Yakima Reclamation Field Office has announced that all senior water right and junior water right holders will receive irrigation water in October.

​

In late September staff at the Yakima Field Office reviewed the amount of water left in the five Yakima basin reservoirs, reduced demand, along with natural runoff coming out of the mountains, the amount of precipitation (rainfall) we’ve been receiving and the weather forecasted for the next few weeks into October. They do this to determine what the Yakima Basin will start the 2027 water year with.    Using that data, the Yakima Field office has determined that there will be some water available into the month of October. 

​

A bit of an explanation as to why this is possible. October 1, 2026, is the start date of the new 2027 water year.    In terms of water being available, this makes sense. Streamflow and groundwater levels usually reach their annual minimum in late September, and precipitation begins to increase in the mountains as the season turns to fall and takes the Yakima Basin into a wetter season.

​

While the amount of water available to KRD isn’t a full month supply of water, it is just enough to allow any KRD landowners with remaining water on the books to continue ordering water from the Ditch Riders until October 15.  The KRD will begin canal shutdown operations on that date and start preparing for winter construction projects until Spring 2027.

​

KRD appreciates Reclamation's hard work to provide accurate and up to date information during this difficult water year.