The 2026 irrigation season is winding down with junior and senior water rights holders in the Yakima Basin expected to receive 100% of their normal October water supply. But state officials warn that drought conditions persist. 

The latter portion of the 2026 irrigation season had some factors swing their way, according the state Department of Ecology. Reservoirs entered the spring full thanks to a wet December. There were no prolonged heat waves during the summer and precipitation fell at just the right time in August and September. However, many farmers also fallowed land due to anticipated water restrictions. 

“Though we are in a much better position than this time last year, the Yakima Basin is still in a multiyear drought. Restrictions remain in place for some critical tributaries,” Ecology said in a blog post. 

Long-term water supply challenges remain. Research estimates Washington will experience snow droughts seven out of every 10 years by the 2050s, on average. Ecology said those projections underscore the importance of investing in water storage and other long-term water supply solutions.