The Department of Ecology's unprecedented order to halt nearly all surface water use in the Yakima River Basin will end as expected on Oct. 31, according to a news release.
The order came about because of record-low reservoir storage and poor stream flows as the basin suffered a third year of drought. The irrigation season for much of the basin ended on Oct. 6. Ecology worked with some towns in upper Kittitas County to help reduce water usage.
"This was the first time we've had to act on this scale to respond to an unprecedented water supply challenge," Ria Berns, Ecology's water program manager said in the release. "However, it may not be the last. That's why it's so important to continue investing in long-term conservation, storage, and habitat projects to secure our water supplies for future generations."
Most cities in the Yakima River basin use groundwater or a mix of groundwater and surface water for their drinking water supply. In Upper Kittitas County, Roslyn and Ronald use Domerie Creek. Cle Elum, South Cle Elum and Suncadia use surface water from the Yakima River but have emergency wells for limited backup use.
The towns' relatively less senior water rights were officially curtailed through Oct. 31, but taps in kitchens in these areas were not shut off.
Ecology was using discretion in its enforcement in its curtailment order to not interfere with drinking water. It worked with the cities on reducing nonessential use, like lawn watering.
In Yakima, the city diverts water from the Naches River at the Nelson diversion to supply both drinking and irrigation water. It also has four groundwater wells that support drinking water demand. Irrigation water delivery stopped on Oct. 6.
'This is unprecedented:' Ecology restricts surface water use in the Yakima River Basin