Key numbers
Western water statistics (October 2026)
The headline numbers, each written as one sentence you can quote, with the date its data runs through and a citation. Free to republish with attribution — see the methodology. The charts behind these numbers are one click away.
Total tracked storage #
Across 21 tracked western reservoirs, total storage is 34.64M af, 9% below the combined 5-yr median for the date (data through Oct 28, 2026).
Lake Powell #
Lake Powell water level storage is 5.90M af, 18% below its 5-yr median for the date.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation RISE; California reservoirs via CA DWR CDEC · End-of-day reservoir storage · Lake Powell water level · through Oct 28, 2026
Lake Mead #
Lake Mead water level storage is 6.87M af, 20% below its 5-yr median for the date.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation RISE; California reservoirs via CA DWR CDEC · End-of-day reservoir storage · Lake Mead water level · through Oct 28, 2026
Furthest below normal #
Blue Mesa Reservoir water level is the tracked reservoir furthest below normal, 62% under its 5-yr median (151,197 af).
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation RISE; California reservoirs via CA DWR CDEC · End-of-day reservoir storage · Blue Mesa Reservoir water level · through Oct 28, 2026
Driest basin #
Green-Colorado basin and Colorado (Lower) basin are tied for furthest below normal of the tracked basins, 16% under their 5-yr medians.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation RISE; California reservoirs via CA DWR CDEC · End-of-day reservoir storage · Western reservoir levels, total · through Oct 27, 2026
Most drought coverage #
Nevada has the most area in drought of the tracked states, 95% in drought (D1-D4) or worse.
About this data: US Drought Monitor (National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, NOAA) · Share of area in moderate drought (D1) or worse · Nevada · through Oct 27, 2026
States majority in drought #
8 of 11 tracked western states have at least half their area in drought (D1-D4) or worse (US Drought Monitor, data through Oct 27, 2026).
SWP allocation #
The State Water Project statewide allocation stands at 45%.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project and Klamath Project); California Department of Water Resources (State Water Project) · Allocation as a percent of contract supply, by contractor class · California and the Klamath Project · through Oct 27, 2026
CVP south-of-Delta ag #
The Central Valley Project south-of-Delta agricultural allocation stands at 31%.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project and Klamath Project); California Department of Water Resources (State Water Project) · Allocation as a percent of contract supply, by contractor class · California and the Klamath Project · through Oct 27, 2026
CVP Friant Class 1 #
The Central Valley Project Friant Division Class 1 allocation stands at 100%.
About this data: US Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project and Klamath Project); California Department of Water Resources (State Water Project) · Allocation as a percent of contract supply, by contractor class · California and the Klamath Project · through Oct 27, 2026
Lowest streamflow vs normal #
Willamette River at Portland is running 54% below its 5-yr median discharge, the furthest below normal of the tracked gauges.
About this data: US Geological Survey (USGS) · Daily mean streamflow (discharge) · Willamette River at Portland · through Oct 28, 2026