Irrigation system in Kittitas County set for early closure

KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash. (AP) — The single-largest irrigation system in Kittitas County is set to close down its water deliveries due to the continuing drought and record high heat, affecting more than 2,600 customers.

The Daily Record reports the Kittitas Reclamation District will begin shutting down Thursday and will likely finish by Saturday, which is much earlier than the usual Oct. 15 date.

KRD Manager Urban Eberhart says this year's early closure is an effect of the drought from lack of winter snowpack, high temperatures and drawing on reservoir water earlier than normal.

The closure was supposed to have begun Tuesday, but U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials increased the total amount of Yakima River system water by 1 percent on Monday, bringing the KRD to 47 percent of a full supply this year.