Reclamation: Yakima Junior Water Rights Unchanged

Very little changed from May to June, when it comes to the water entitlements in the Yakima basin. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, senior water rights will be fully satisfied at this point, while junior water rights will receive an estimated 92% of the entitlements this irrigation season; up slightly from the 91% announced in early May.

Those figures are based on flows, precipitation, snowpack and reservoir storage as of June 1^st.

 “May snowpack was below average all month and the snow will likely melt out earlier than normal,” said Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor. “This early depletion of the snowpack will lead to reservoirs using water earlier than normal.”

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