# The Waterline > Wet water, not paper water. Reservoir storage, basin rollups, drought class and allocations, pulled from the public record every day and compared to what is normal. One brief a week. No forecasts, no spin. _Data through Jul 25, 2026._ ## Latest issue: Elephant Butte Falls Below 30,000 af, 77% Below the 5-Year Median (Jul 26, 2026) Elephant Butte drops to 29,804 af, down 25% on the week and 77% below its 5-year median, the widest deficit in the digest, as Colorado drought covers 91% of the state and flows surge on the Dolores. Read: https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-26 · Markdown: https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-26.md ## The data ### Reservoirs Storage vs the historical normal for major western reservoirs. - [Blue Mesa Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/blue-mesa-reservoir.md) — 244,556 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Boysen Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/boysen-reservoir.md) — 534,671 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Canyon Ferry Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/canyon-ferry-lake.md) — 1.67M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Elephant Butte Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/elephant-butte-reservoir.md) — 29,804 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Flaming Gorge Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/flaming-gorge-reservoir.md) — 2.68M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Folsom Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/folsom-lake.md) — 695,934 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Fontenelle Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/fontenelle-reservoir.md) — 283,271 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Hungry Horse Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/hungry-horse-reservoir.md) — 3.41M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Lake Havasu water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-havasu.md) — 535,043 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Lake Mead water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-mead.md) — 7.06M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Lake Mohave water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-mohave.md) — 1.78M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Lake Oroville water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-oroville.md) — 2.63M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Lake Powell water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-powell.md) — 5.43M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Millerton Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/millerton-lake.md) — 311,669 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Navajo Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/navajo-reservoir.md) — 905,192 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [New Don Pedro Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/new-don-pedro-reservoir.md) — 1.76M af (as of Jul 23, 2026) - [New Melones Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/new-melones-lake.md) — 1.63M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Shasta Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/shasta-lake.md) — 3.15M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Trinity Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/trinity-lake.md) — 1.92M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Whiskeytown Lake water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/whiskeytown-lake.md) — 237,673 af (as of Jul 25, 2026) ### Basins Storage and streamflow rolled up by western river basin. - [Colorado (Lower) basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/colorado-lower.md) — 9.38M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Green-Colorado basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/green-colorado.md) — 2.96M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Sacramento basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/sacramento.md) — 3.39M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [San Joaquin basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/san-joaquin.md) — 1.94M af (as of Jul 25, 2026) ### Drought Drought class by state and county, week over week. - [Arizona drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/arizona.md) — 89% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [California drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/california.md) — 6% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Colorado drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/colorado.md) — 91% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Doña Ana County, NM drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/dona-ana-county-nm.md) — 26% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Fresno County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/fresno-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Idaho drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/idaho.md) — 78% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Kern County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/kern-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Kings County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/kings-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Klamath County, OR drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/klamath-county-or.md) — 88% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Maricopa County, AZ drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/maricopa-county-az.md) — 100% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Merced County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/merced-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Montana drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/montana.md) — 46% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Nevada drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/nevada.md) — 75% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [New Mexico drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/new-mexico.md) — 94% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Oregon drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/oregon.md) — 88% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [San Joaquin County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/san-joaquin-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Stanislaus County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/stanislaus-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Tulare County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/tulare-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Twin Falls County, ID drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/twin-falls-county-id.md) — 100% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Utah drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/utah.md) — 100% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Washington drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/washington.md) — 64% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Wyoming drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/wyoming.md) — 100% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Yakima County, WA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/yakima-county-wa.md) — 75% (as of Jul 21, 2026) - [Yuma County, AZ drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/yuma-county-az.md) — 67% (as of Jul 21, 2026) ### Allocations CVP and SWP allocation announcements, as they land. - [CVP Cross Valley Irrigation allocation](https://the-waterline.com/allocation/cvp-cross-valley-irrigation.md) — 20% (as of Mar 24, 2026) - [CVP South of Delta Municipal and Industrial allocation](https://the-waterline.com/allocation/cvp-south-of-delta-municipal-and-industrial.md) — 75% (as of May 19, 2026) - [SWP Statewide allocation](https://the-waterline.com/allocation/swp-statewide-swp.md) — 45% (as of May 1, 2026) ### Streamflow Daily mean discharge at basin-representative gauges. - [American River at Fair Oaks streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/american-river-at-fair-oaks.md) — 4,430 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Bear River near Corinne streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/bear-river-near-corinne.md) — 306 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Bighorn River at Kane streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/bighorn-river-at-kane.md) — 773 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Boise River at Glenwood Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/boise-river-at-glenwood-bridge.md) — 662 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Carson River near Carson City streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/carson-river-near-carson-city.md) — 22 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Colorado River at Lees Ferry streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/colorado-river-at-lees-ferry.md) — 7,660 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Colorado River near Cisco streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/colorado-river-near-cisco.md) — 2,220 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Columbia basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-basin.md) — 140,000 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Columbia River at International Boundary streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-river-at-international-boundary.md) — 90,900 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Columbia River at The Dalles streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-river-at-the-dalles.md) — 140,000 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Dolores River near Cisco streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/dolores-river-near-cisco.md) — 157 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Green River at Green River streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/green-river-at-green-river.md) — 2,180 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/gunnison-river-below-gunnison-tunnel.md) — 262 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Klamath River near Klamath streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/klamath-river-near-klamath.md) — 2,580 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/rio-grande-at-otowi-bridge.md) — 297 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Rio Grande basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/rio-grande-basin.md) — 297 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Rio Grande Floodway at San Marcial streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/rio-grande-floodway-at-san-marcial.md) — 0.0 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Sacramento basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-basin.md) — 17,200 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Sacramento River at Bend Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-river-at-bend-bridge.md) — 13,200 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Sacramento River at Verona streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-river-at-verona.md) — 17,200 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Salmon River at White Bird streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/salmon-river-at-white-bird.md) — 6,240 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Salt River near Roosevelt streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/salt-river-near-roosevelt.md) — 231 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [San Joaquin River near Vernalis streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-joaquin-river-near-vernalis.md) — 521 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [San Juan River at Farmington streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-river-at-farmington.md) — 1,080 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [San Juan River near Archuleta streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-river-near-archuleta.md) — 858 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [San Juan-Colorado basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-colorado-basin.md) — 1,080 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Snake River above Jackson Lake streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-river-above-jackson-lake.md) — 414 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Snake River at Weiser streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-river-at-weiser.md) — 6,480 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Snake-Columbia basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-columbia-basin.md) — 6,480 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Truckee River at Vista streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/truckee-river-at-vista.md) — 281 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Willamette River at Portland streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/willamette-river-at-portland.md) — 8,530 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Yampa River near Maybell streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/yampa-river-near-maybell.md) — 79 cfs (as of Jul 25, 2026) ### Snowpack Snow water equivalent vs the 1991-2020 median, by state and river basin. - [California snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/california.md) — 14.7 in on Feb 19, 2026 (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Colorado snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/colorado.md) — 8.4 in on Mar 8, 2026 (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Sierra Nevada snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/sierra-nevada.md) — 15.3 in on Feb 19, 2026 (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Upper Colorado River Basin snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/upper-colorado-river-basin.md) — 8.8 in on Mar 8, 2026 (as of Jul 25, 2026) - [Utah snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/utah.md) — 7.8 in on Mar 6, 2026 (as of Jul 25, 2026) ## More - [Key statistics](https://the-waterline.com/stats.md) - [Guides](https://the-waterline.com/guides.md) - [Issue archive](https://the-waterline.com/issues) - [Agent index (llms.txt)](https://the-waterline.com/llms.txt) - [RSS feed](https://the-waterline.com/rss.xml)