Kennewick Irrigation District

10/15/2026

From the classroom to the career field!

Two of our staff members recently visited Delta High School to give students a firsthand look at their careers at Kennewick Irrigation District.

Brett, our Professional Surveyor, and Marina, our Staff Engineer, shared insights into their day-to-day responsibilities, what they enjoy most about their jobs, and some of the challenges they face along the way.

For Marina, a Delta High School alumna, the visit was extra special as she returned to her former school to share her experiences with the next generation of students!

👏 A big thank-you to Brett and Marina for taking the time to share their knowledge and experiences, and to Delta High School for inviting us to speak with your students!

10/12/2026

Last Friday, KID staff joined the Kennewick Fire Department and other local agencies at Southridge Sports Complex for Fire Safety Week. The event provided an opportunity to connect with community members and promote important safety messages.

Our team focused on canal safety, helping educate attendees about the dangers associated with irrigation canals and the importance of staying safe around them.

Thank you to the Kennewick Fire Department for inviting us to participate!

10/07/2026

Friendly reminder! Our last official day for water deliveries is Monday, October 12th. KID will begin the system shut-off process on Tuesday, October 13th.

We’ve also included shut-off information for several neighboring irrigation districts for your convenience. Dates listed for other districts are current as of October 5th and may change. Please visit your specific irrigation district’s website for the most current information.

If you have questions regarding KID’s shut-off schedule, please contact our Customer Service Department at 509.586.9111.

Planning a sprinkler blowout? Please wait until irrigation water has been shut off before having your system blown out. If water is still available to your property, your irrigation system may simply refill afterward.

10/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us at RiverFest this weekend! 🌊

We had a great time visiting with community members, talking about canal safety and answering irrigation questions.

A big thank you to the Pasco Chamber of Commerce for putting on another great event. Kennewick Irrigation District is proud to be a sponsor of RiverFest and support an event that brings our community together to celebrate and learn more about our local rivers and water resources.

We’ll see you next year!

09/29/2026

09/28/2026

We’re heading to RiverFest! 🌊

Kennewick Irrigation District is excited to be part of RiverFest this weekend at Columbia Park!

Stop by the KID booth to say hello, learn more about canal safety and the dangers of canals, and talk with us about what to expect for the 2027 irrigation season. We’ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

We’re looking forward to a great day and hope to see you there!

RiverFest is a free, family-friendly event celebrating our rivers with educational exhibits, hands-on activities, food, music and more!

09/18/2026

The final day for full water deliveries will be Monday, October 12. Our shut-off process will begin the following day.

While we remain hopeful for favorable winter conditions, a strengthening El Niño and low reservoir carryover increase the possibility that we could face a fifth consecutive year of drought next spring.

We want to thank everyone who followed the voluntary watering schedule this season. Your efforts once again helped us avoid moving to a mandatory schedule! 💪

As we transition into fall, we strongly encourage customers to help strengthen plant root systems by watering deeply. Deep watering encourages roots to grow farther into the soil, helping plants become more resilient during dry conditions.

For guidance on watering and preparing your landscaping for the months ahead, local irrigation and landscaping professionals are excellent resources, as are the WSU Master Gardeners. You can also find more information on our website at kid.org.

09/11/2026

We will never forget.

A Field of Remembrance will be viewable during the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial.

One American flag for every life lost — every parent, every child, every friend and coworker who never made it home. A powerful reminder of what was taken that day, and of the community that came together in its wake.

The field will be viewable beginning at 6:30 a.m. and will remain standing through the close of our evening ceremony (est. 7pm) We invite you to come view it, reflect, and remember with us.

📍 WTC 9/11 Memorial - Southridge Sports & Events Complex
🗓️ September 11, 2026

One flag. One life. One community, remembering together.

Field of Remembrance made possible by our friends at Numerica Credit Union.

09/10/2026

As the 2026 irrigation season winds down, let’s look at where the Yakima Basin’s five storage reservoirs stand heading into the off-season.

The Bureau of Reclamation began its annual “flip-flop” operation around August 27. During this process, releases from the upper reservoirs are reduced while releases from lower reservoirs increase, helping provide river conditions for Chinook salmon spawning while balancing irrigation and storage needs across the basin.

The effects of that shift can be seen in the reservoir graphic. Cle Elum and Keechelus have been drawn down, while water is also being released from Kachess, Bumping and Rimrock. Rimrock currently holds the greatest amount of remaining water.

The blue line on the water-year graph represents this year’s combined reservoir storage. Although storage is higher than it was at this time last year, shown in green, it remains below the historical average shown in red.

Looking ahead, El Niño adds another layer of concern. El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become warmer than average, shifting weather patterns across North America. In Washington and much of the Northwest, El Niño winters often bring warmer and drier conditions.

Warmer winters can also mean that more precipitation falls as rain instead of snow. That distinction is important because the Yakima Basin relies heavily on mountain snowpack or what we call our “sixth reservoir," to store water through the winter and release it gradually during the spring and summer.

El Niño does not guarantee a dry winter, and many factors will influence our water supply over the coming months. However, if warmer and drier conditions develop and the basin does not receive enough mountain snow, we could unfortunately enter a fifth consecutive year of drought in 2027.

We’ll continue monitoring reservoir storage, precipitation and snowpack throughout the off-season and provide updates as conditions develop.

Sources:

https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5397
https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/el-nino-northwest-what-can-we-expect
https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html

09/07/2026

💪 In honor of the hard work, dedication, and achievements of workers everywhere, our office will be closed today, September 7th, and we will reopen tomorrow at 8am.

Wishing you a safe and happy Labor Day!