Why is measuring water in the Yakima River Basin necessary now?
A. Competition for water peaks during drought years. One way to ensure that water resources are well managed is for all water users to measure the water they divert. This can be accomplished by installing a meter that functions like that used to measure your power use by the power company or by installing other approved measuring devices. Please see WAC 173-090-175. Even small water uses are important. More than one thousand water rights have been confirmed as part of the Yakima River Basin adjudication. Together, these diversions add up to a great deal of water. Measuring water use will help to ensure water users are within their rights and that efforts to ease drought conditions are adequate to protect senior water rights. Q: Who needs to install a meter or measuring device? A: The Yakima County Superior Court order requires surface water users with confirmed water rights to meter and measure their water use if they do not already do so. The large water diversions of one (1) cubic fo
