By Conrad Swanson, Seattle Times climate reporter
Oct. 2, 2025
Drought conditions east of the Cascade crest are so dire that state officials plan to cut off water for farmers, ranchers and more, something they’ve never done before.
Reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin are expected to run out of water early next week, officials with the Washington Department of Ecology said in a release. To conserve what little water remains for fish and senior water rights holders in the 6,100-square-mile basin, the state will halt surface water use, including water drawn from rivers, streams and reservoirs, on Monday through the end of the month.