Media Contact: Susan Woodward, YBIP Communications, 360-481-4872
For Release, July 6, 2026
Rain and cool weather bring some relief to drought-stricken basin
YAKIMA, Wash. — An uncommon boost to water supplies for “proratables” in the Yakima basin is expected to make a real difference to Irrigation districts and their agricultural customers this season.
On July 2, the Bureau of Reclamation announced it had raised the total water supply forecast for junior water rights holders from 52 percent of their full entitlements to 56 percent.
The four percent increase would greatly help growers in the basin, who are facing an unprecedented fourth consecutive year of drought, said Scott Revell, district manager for the Roza Irrigation District.
“We were fortunate to experience some cooler overcast conditions and even a little rain in the mountains in late June,” Revell said. “In addition, the prolonged drought combined with a severe downturn in market conditions has forced farmers to allow some land to go fallow, so we’re supplying water to a smaller district this year. All these things coming together at the same time are providing some relief during this time of water scarcity.”
Revell said the four percent increase meant his irrigation district would receive an additional 10,000 acre-feet of water for May through September, a volume equivalent to 10,000 football fields covered by one foot of water.
The situation is better for early June this year than it was during early June in 2025 and 2024, when total water supply for junior water rights was 43 percent and 47 percent, respectively.