Yakima Basin Faces Unprecedented Water Curtailment Amid Drought

On October 4, 2025, the Washington Department of Ecology announced an unprecedented decision to curtail all surface water rights in the Yakima River Basin due to a severe drought. The order, which will be in effect from October 6 through the end of the month, comes as the region faces record-low reservoir storage and poor stream flows.

The decision is a necessary step to preserve water for fish and the most senior water rights holders. Ecology estimates the restrictions may affect more than 1,500 water right holders in the basin. This is the first time the department has had to enforce the seniority system established in the 40-year long Yakima Basin adjudication case, which was finalized in 2021.

Several irrigation districts have already shut off water earlier this year, with the Kittitas Reclamation District and Roza Irrigation District seeing only 40% of their allotment. Even the Yakama Nation, which holds the most senior water rights dating back to the Treaty of 1855, will have to shut down their irrigation system early.

The Yakima Basin has long been a national model for water management, but the current drought conditions have put that collaboration to the test. Ecology's director, Casey Sixkiller, acknowledged that there is much more work ahead to improve water security for the region.