Kittitas Reclamation District

10/30/2026

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

10/15/2026

KRD has begun lowering water levels in the canals and laterals early this morning. You will continue to see water levels go down through Friday as the irrigation water is shut down for the season. After today, October 15, 2026 any water remaining in the Main and South Branch canals is Yakima Project water for Tributary Supplementation, not for irrigation purposes.

09/25/2026

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.

09/14/2026

Water Supply Update – On September 14, 2026, the Yakima Reclamation Field Office released a mid-month forecast for the Yakima Project Total Water Supply Available (TWSA). As a direct result of recent precipitation and current reservoir storage, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows, the estimated total water supply available for the remainder of the 2026 water year increases the proration rate to 62%.

This is 2% increase allows KRD to continue operating at ½ inch to the acre (4.5 gallons per minute per acre) with a new target end date of September 30, 2026, to begin canal shut down operations. Ditch Riders will continue taking water orders until Monday, September 28, 2026.

KRD appreciates Reclamation's hard work to provide a mid-month forecast and the periodic rainstorms the Yakima basin has received throughout the summer.

09/08/2026

KRD will begin spilling water down the 1146 Spillway into the Yakima River at Bristol Flats as part of USBR’s Flip Flop Operations on Tuesday afternoon, September 8, 2026. USBR has posted signage and buoys for your safety. Please be safe while navigating around the 1146 Spillway into the Yakima River.

To read more on USBR’s Flip Flop operations click here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5397

09/03/2026

Water Supply Update – On September 3, 2026, the Yakima Field Office released their September 1, 2026, forecast for Yakima Project Total Water Supply Available (TWSA). The September forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage as of September 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows. The estimate of the total water supply available for the June-September period indicates a proration rate of 60%. This is a 2% increase for the September - October period.

KRD will continue operating at ½ inch to the acre (4.5 gallons per minute per acre) and anticipate beginning Canal shut down operations on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Last day to order water will be Friday, September 11, 2026.

Read more here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5405

*All KRD water rights are junior, proratable water rights.

Bureau of Reclamation

08/14/2026

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/increase-in-yakima-river-reservoir-water-levels/video_d94e90f6-8b22-5b1a-bf3c-ebbeb0fc8f4b.html

Increase in Yakima River reservoir water levels

08/07/2026

Water Supply Update – On August 6, 2026, the Yakima Field Office released their August 1, 2026, forecast for Yakima Project Total Water Supply Available (TWSA).

The August forecast is based on flows, precipitation, snowpack, and reservoir storage as of Aug. 1, along with estimates of future precipitation and river flows.

The estimate of the total water supply available for the June-September period indicates a proration rate of 58%. This is a 2% increase for the August – September forecast period.

To continue targeting the early days of September for the end of the 2026 irrigation season, KRD is now operating at ½ inch to the acre (4.5 gallons per minute per acre).

Read more here:

Bureau of Reclamation