Kennewick Irrigation District cuts water amid severe drought conditions

The Kennewick Irrigation District has informed its agricultural customers that water supply is being cut off as drought conditions persist in the Yakima Basin. The Department of Ecology has overridden the district’s water rights to conserve water, citing inadequate storage in federal reservoirs and low natural flows in the Yakima River and its tributaries.

“This action occurred due to inadequate storage in the Federal reservoirs needed to deliver irrigation water, along with significant low flow natural flows in the Yakima River and its tributaries,” the Department of Ecology stated. “So these orders were necessary to prevent impairment to those most senior rights. They were effective October 6 and will expire on October 31. And the orders were sent out to all surface water diverters in the entire basin, regardless of purpose of use and location in the basin.”

In response, the Kennewick Irrigation District commented, “Our customers did a phenomenal job following the voluntary schedule this season—so much so that we didn’t need to move to mandatory restrictions.”

Despite these efforts, water cuts were likely inevitable. The Yakima Basin reservoir system is currently at 7% of its total capacity, with severe drought affecting many portions of the basin’s runoff. However, the wet season is approaching, and significant mountain snowfall is expected this weekend.

Looking ahead, the Department of Ecology and the Kennewick Irrigation District are collaborating to increase water reservoir capacity and educate users on water conservation, with hopes that the drought conditions will improve next year.