Unprecedented: State cuts Yakima Basin surface water amid three-year drought
Oct 3, 2025, 1:05 PM | Updated: 1:09 pm
People travel through the Yakima Basin. Ecology has shut off water amid a drought. (Photo courtesy of Ecology)
(Photo courtesy of Ecology)
As the Yakima Basin experiences its third consecutive year of drought, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has decided to take significant action.
In an unprecedented move, DOE halted surface water use from Oct. 6 to the end of the month, the agency announced in a news release Wednesday.
The drought has caused historically low reservoir storage and streamflows, according to DOE.
“We have not experienced a drought like this in over 30 years, and it’s forcing us to take actions we’ve never done before,” Ria Berns, Ecology’s Water Resources program manager, said via the news release. “We know that restricting water diversions will impact communities across the Yakima Basin, but this is a necessary step to protect water for fish and senior water rights in the face of continued drought conditions.”
Restrictions may affect more than 1,500 water rights holders, and local communities might need to lessen residential watering.
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Water rights holders restricted amid Yakima Basin drought
Water is expected to run out after Oct. 6, and without stored water, the Yakima River’s natural flow and precipitation won’t be enough for even senior water rights claims.
If water runs low, state law requires senior water rights holders to get their full amount before junior water rights holders. Water is so low that only the most senior holders can access the basin, Ecology noted.
“For years, the Yakima Basin has been a national model for collaboration and water management,” Casey Sixkiller, DOE’s director, said via the news release. “That partnership has led to more than $1 billion in investments. But the conditions we see today show that there is much more work still ahead of us to improve water security for the region.”
Water rights holders will be notified by mail this week of the restrictions, according to the department.
The agency noted that DOE staff will be checking to verify that water diversions are turned off.
Water rights holders can contact Ecology at (509) 575-2597 or email wrcro@ecy.wa.gov with questions.
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