WALLA WALLA—On Sunday, July 30, the Washington Department of Ecology announced water restrictions for many Touchet River basin irrigators beginning as early as this week.

DOE’s Regional Watermaster Eric Hartwig is planning to call or visit junior water rights holders to inform them of the curtailment order, and he will follow up with status updates throughout the season.

The Touchet River is running about 50 cubic feet per second near its mid-section, and under 20 cubic feet per second at its confluence with the Walla Walla River.

The enduring hot weather and the severe flooding in southeast W...