The Waterline https://the-waterline.com Wet water, not paper water. en-us Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:32:21 GMT San Luis Reservoir at 1.47M af, 45% Above the Five-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-10-01 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-10-01 Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT San Luis Reservoir stands at 1.47M af as water year 2027 opens, 45% above its five-year median. Salt-Gila streamflow surged to 10,800 cfs, up 3,771% on the week. Oroville fell 5% to 1.63M af. Elephant Butte Up 14% This Week, Still 71% Below the 5-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-24 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-24 Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Elephant Butte Reservoir bounced to 31,826 af this week but remains 71% below the five-year median. The Rio Grande surged to 730 cfs. Colorado drought coverage holds at 86%, 45 pts above the five-year median. Dolores-Colorado Surges to 116 cfs, Up 705.6% on the Week https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-16 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-16 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Dolores-Colorado gauge reversed to 116 cfs, up 705.6% on the week and 40% above the five-year median. Blue Mesa fell 8% to 148,569 af, 66% below the five-year median. Colorado drought covers 88% of area. Rio Grande Surges 233% to 590 cfs, Now 39% Above Normal https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-03 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-03 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Rio Grande hit 590 cfs this week, up 233% week over week and now 39% above the five-year median. Blue Mesa fell 7% to 173,679 af. Elephant Butte holds at 27,644 af, 74% below normal. Rio Grande Down 31% on the Week to 177 cfs, 78% Below Normal https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-27 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-27 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Rio Grande gauge fell 31% on the week to 177 cfs, 78% below its five-year median. Elephant Butte holds 27,438 af, flat but 73% below normal. Blue Mesa dropped 7% to 189,745 af as upper Colorado pressure continues. CVP South-of-Delta Ag Revised to 28%, M&I to 78% https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-20 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-20 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT The Bureau of Reclamation revised CVP South-of-Delta ag allocation to 28% and M&I to 78% on Aug. 11. Blue Mesa fell 6% on the week to 201,675 af, 58% below the 5-year median. Dolores River Drops 74% on the Week to 9.8 cfs https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-10 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-10 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Dolores River drops 74% on the week to 9.8 cfs, 89% below the 5-year median; Blue Mesa falls 5% to 221,055 af; 91% of Colorado in D1+ drought. Elephant Butte Falls Below 30,000 af, 77% Below the 5-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-26 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-26 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT 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. Elephant Butte Falls 23% in a Week to 55,126 af, 60% Below Normal https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-14 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-14 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Elephant Butte Reservoir shed 23% of its storage in a single week and now sits 60% below the 5-year median at peak irrigation demand, while Wyoming and Colorado carry drought coverage above 90%. Rio Grande Reads 0 cfs During Irrigation Season https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-09 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-09 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT The tracked Rio Grande gauge hit 0 cfs this week, the furthest below normal of any site in the digest. Elephant Butte holds 55,126 af, down 60% vs its 5-year median. Klamath County drought stands at 88%, 57 pts above normal. Elephant Butte Down 24% on the Week, 54% Below the 5-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-02 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-07-02 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Elephant Butte Reservoir storage fell 24% week over week to 69,686 af, 54% below the 5-year median. Colorado and Wyoming drought coverage runs at 93% and 100% respectively, while San Joaquin Valley counties post zero drought. Blue Mesa at 301,580 af, 48% Below the 5-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-25 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-25 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Blue Mesa at 301,580 af, 48% below the 5-year median, heads into peak drawdown. Elephant Butte dropped 32% on the week. Rio Grande gauge at 0 cfs. Wyoming at 100% drought coverage. Rio Grande at 0.0 cfs During Peak Irrigation Season https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-11 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-11 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT USGS recorded 0.0 cfs on the Rio Grande this week, down from positive flow. Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho exceed 85% drought coverage, each 50+ pts above their 5-year medians. CVP North-of-Delta at 100%, SWP at 45%, both standing status. Elephant Butte Down 14% on the Week, 47% Below the 5-Year Median https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-04 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-06-04 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Elephant Butte falls to 179,802 af, down 14% and 47% below the 5-year median at the start of drawdown season. Rio Grande gauge at 0.1 cfs. Wyoming at 98% drought coverage, Colorado at 93%, both 60-plus pts above their 5-year medians. CVP South-of-Delta Irrigation Allocation Revised to 25% https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-05-28 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-05-28 Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Bureau of Reclamation raised CVP South-of-Delta irrigation to 25% and M&I to 75% on May 19. Elephant Butte sits at 208,870 af, 42% below the 5-year median, as the USGS-tracked Rio Grande gauge records zero flow. CVP South-of-Delta Ag Allocation Raised to 25% https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-05-21 https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-05-21 Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Bureau of Reclamation raises CVP South-of-Delta irrigation to 25% and M&I to 75% on May 19. Wyoming drought covers 98% of the state, 69 pts above the 5-year median. Elephant Butte sits at 223,415 af, 38% below the 5-year median.