KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Kennewick Irrigation District has successfully navigated a challenging irrigation season, thanks to community efforts in water conservation.
The district has been actively communicating the need for more water as the Bureau of Reclamation reduced the water supply from the river to 40 percent.
Leonard explained, “About two weeks ago, the Bureau of Reclamation readjusted the amount of water in the river down to 40 percent.”
The Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency, is responsible for managing water supplies from large bodies of water. Initially, the water supply was expected to be much higher.
Leonard noted, “Understanding the beginning of the season, they were talking about something as high as 76-78%.”
To illustrate the impact, Leonard used an analogy, stating, “We all kind of know what we’re earning on an annual basis and your employer comes to you and says, well, we have to do cutbacks, but you’re going to have somewhere between 40 and 78% of your salary. That’s a pretty big swing.”
Leonard highlighted that the reduction in river water was a gradual process over the summer. “We have had about a half a dozen instances since the beginning of the season where we got close to either needing to institute mandatory scheduling and or looking at areas where we were going to struggle to get water,” he said.
Residential customers face limitations on sprinkler and hose usage, while the agricultural community could face significant economic impacts. Leonard stated, “You’re talking about losing crops and trees and that mix, which is certainly life affecting, but it also affects the overall economy. No secret that the Washington state, particularly this section of Washington state, produces billions of dollars in produce.”
Leonard credited the community’s adherence to water-saving guidelines for avoiding water shortages. The district has been in communication with the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure future stability. Leonard said, “And so one of the things that we are ardently going back to the Bureau to is how we can provide for not just certainty, but stability in the system. And those probably aren’t going to be easy conversations, but they’re necessary.”
The Bureau of Reclamation provided a statement, saying they provide daily status updates on operations and water deliveries to partners throughout the basin, ensuring consistent communication and coordination.
Leonard remains confident in managing the current irrigation season but stressed the importance of improved communication with the Bureau for future years.
