YAKIMA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Ecology announced an immediate halt on surface water use in the Yakima Basin due to historically low reservoir storage and stream flow.

The restriction, effective from October 6 through the end of the month, impacts all surface water users in the Yakima River’s main stem across Yakima, Kittitas and Benton counties. This includes irrigators, municipalities and individual landowners.

The department’s water resource section manager explained, “What makes this unprecedented is how many people it will affect.”

The Yakima Basin regulators distribute water on a priority basis, but recent assessments revealed that even the most senior water rights holders would face poor stream flow.

Residents and businesses receiving an order are advised to c

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