Dolores-Colorado Surges to 116 cfs, Up 705.6% on the Week

Streamflow at the Dolores-Colorado gauge reached 116 cfs this week, up 705.6% week over week and 40% above the five-year median, per USGS. The reading reverses a recent slide to 9.8 cfs. Blue Mesa Reservoir extended its drawdown, falling 8% on the week to 148,569 af, 66% below the five-year median (Bureau of Reclamation).

• Salt-Gila streamflow reached 547 cfs, up 252.9% week over week and 134% above the five-year median (USGS).
• Elephant Butte Reservoir storage was flat on the week at 27,873 af, 75% below the five-year median (Bureau of Reclamation). Per the NIDIS Aug 20, 2026 drought status update, major reservoirs in the Colorado and Rio Grande basins have reached historic lows.
• Colorado state drought covers 88% of area in D1-D4 conditions, 51 percentage points above the five-year median (US Drought Monitor). Coverage eased 1 point on the week.
• Yakima County drought coverage stands at 75%, 43 percentage points above the five-year median (US Drought Monitor).
• Yampa-Green streamflow sits at 26 cfs, 82% below the five-year median and the deepest streamflow deficit in the tracked network (USGS).

Allocations (standing status): SWP statewide stands at 45% of contract, per the Department of Water Resources (announced May 1, 2026). CVP north-of-Delta irrigation, M&I, Sacramento River settlement and American River M&I (Folsom) allocations all stand at 100%, per the Bureau of Reclamation (announced Feb 26, 2026). No allocation changes this reporting period.

Data note: CVP cross-valley irrigation and CVP south-of-delta irrigation allocation figures have not updated in over two weeks; treat those series as stale.