Yakima Basin Gets Full October Water Supply

Yakima Basin senior and junior water-right holders will receive their full normal supply through October, avoiding basin-wide restrictions after last year’s severe shortages. The improvement follows timely late-summer rain and stronger reservoir conditions, but drought continues for a fourth year and some tributaries remain restricted. Washington’s 2026 water year was unusually warm despite near-middle-range precipitation; warm winter weather limited mountain snowpack, contributing to ongoing water-supply challenges.