<!-- canonical: https://the-waterline.com/ -->
<!-- Machine-readable Markdown for agents. Append .md to any page URL; index at https://the-waterline.com/llms.txt -->

# 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 Aug 12, 2026._

## Latest issue: Dolores River Drops 74% on the Week to 9.8 cfs (Aug 10, 2026)

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.

Read: https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-10 · Markdown: https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-08-10.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) — 215,308 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Boysen Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/boysen-reservoir.md) — 519,514 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Canyon Ferry Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/canyon-ferry-lake.md) — 1.62M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Elephant Butte Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/elephant-butte-reservoir.md) — 27,141 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Flaming Gorge Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/flaming-gorge-reservoir.md) — 2.64M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Folsom Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/folsom-lake.md) — 556,962 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Fontenelle Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/fontenelle-reservoir.md) — 290,860 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Hungry Horse Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/hungry-horse-reservoir.md) — 3.32M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Lake Havasu water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-havasu.md) — 523,653 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Lake Mead water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-mead.md) — 6.97M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Lake Mohave water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-mohave.md) — 1.76M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Lake Oroville water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-oroville.md) — 2.29M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Lake Powell water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/lake-powell.md) — 5.28M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Millerton Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/millerton-lake.md) — 267,197 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Navajo Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/navajo-reservoir.md) — 861,191 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [New Don Pedro Reservoir water level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/new-don-pedro-reservoir.md) — 1.67M af (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [New Melones Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/new-melones-lake.md) — 1.59M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Shasta Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/shasta-lake.md) — 2.87M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Trinity Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/trinity-lake.md) — 1.85M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Western reservoir levels, total storage](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/tracked-total.md) — 35.45M af (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Whiskeytown Lake level](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/whiskeytown-lake.md) — 237,768 af (as of Aug 12, 2026)

### Basins
Storage and streamflow rolled up by western river basin.

- [Colorado (Lower) basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/colorado-lower.md) — 9.25M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Green-Colorado basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/green-colorado.md) — 2.93M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Sacramento basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/sacramento.md) — 3.10M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [San Joaquin basin](https://the-waterline.com/basin/san-joaquin.md) — 1.86M af (as of Aug 12, 2026)

### Drought
Drought class by state and county, week over week.

- [Arizona drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/arizona.md) — 89% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [California drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/california.md) — 7% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Colorado drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/colorado.md) — 93% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Doña Ana County, NM drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/dona-ana-county-nm.md) — 22% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Fresno County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/fresno-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Idaho drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/idaho.md) — 78% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Kern County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/kern-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Kings County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/kings-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Klamath County, OR drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/klamath-county-or.md) — 88% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Maricopa County, AZ drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/maricopa-county-az.md) — 100% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Merced County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/merced-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Montana drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/montana.md) — 57% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Nevada drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/nevada.md) — 75% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [New Mexico drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/new-mexico.md) — 94% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Oregon drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/oregon.md) — 91% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [San Joaquin County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/san-joaquin-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Stanislaus County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/stanislaus-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Tulare County, CA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/tulare-county-ca.md) — 0% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Twin Falls County, ID drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/twin-falls-county-id.md) — 100% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Utah drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/utah.md) — 100% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Washington drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/washington.md) — 64% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Wyoming drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/wyoming.md) — 100% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Yakima County, WA drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/yakima-county-wa.md) — 75% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Yuma County, AZ drought](https://the-waterline.com/drought/yuma-county-az.md) — 100% (as of Aug 11, 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 Agricultural Irrigation allocation](https://the-waterline.com/allocation/cvp-south-of-delta-agricultural-irrigation-water-service-and-repayment.md) — 28% (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [CVP South of Delta Municipal and Industrial allocation](https://the-waterline.com/allocation/cvp-south-of-delta-municipal-and-industrial-water-service-and-repayment.md) — 78% (as of Aug 11, 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) — 5,050 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Bear River near Corinne streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/bear-river-near-corinne.md) — 186 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Bighorn River at Kane streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/bighorn-river-at-kane.md) — 467 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Boise River at Glenwood Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/boise-river-at-glenwood-bridge.md) — 644 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Carson River near Carson City streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/carson-river-near-carson-city.md) — 8.9 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Colorado River at Lees Ferry streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/colorado-river-at-lees-ferry.md) — 7,930 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Colorado River near Cisco streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/colorado-river-near-cisco.md) — 1,330 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Columbia basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-basin.md) — 115,000 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Columbia River at International Boundary streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-river-at-international-boundary.md) — 87,800 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Columbia River at The Dalles streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/columbia-river-at-the-dalles.md) — 115,000 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Dolores River near Cisco streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/dolores-river-near-cisco.md) — 6.3 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Green River at Green River streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/green-river-at-green-river.md) — 1,550 cfs (as of Aug 11, 2026)
- [Gunnison River below Gunnison Tunnel streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/gunnison-river-below-gunnison-tunnel.md) — 287 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Klamath River near Klamath streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/klamath-river-near-klamath.md) — 2,270 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/rio-grande-at-otowi-bridge.md) — 244 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Rio Grande basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/rio-grande-basin.md) — 244 cfs (as of Aug 12, 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 Aug 12, 2026)
- [Sacramento basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-basin.md) — 18,900 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Sacramento River at Bend Bridge streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-river-at-bend-bridge.md) — 13,200 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Sacramento River at Verona streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/sacramento-river-at-verona.md) — 18,900 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Salmon River at White Bird streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/salmon-river-at-white-bird.md) — 3,680 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Salt River near Roosevelt streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/salt-river-near-roosevelt.md) — 200 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [San Joaquin River near Vernalis streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-joaquin-river-near-vernalis.md) — 624 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [San Juan River at Farmington streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-river-at-farmington.md) — 816 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [San Juan River near Archuleta streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-river-near-archuleta.md) — 970 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [San Juan-Colorado basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/san-juan-colorado-basin.md) — 970 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Snake River above Jackson Lake streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-river-above-jackson-lake.md) — 266 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Snake River at Weiser streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-river-at-weiser.md) — 8,710 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Snake-Columbia basin streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/snake-columbia-basin.md) — 8,710 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Truckee River at Vista streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/truckee-river-at-vista.md) — 404 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Willamette River at Portland streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/willamette-river-at-portland.md) — 4,930 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)
- [Yampa River near Maybell streamflow](https://the-waterline.com/streamflow/yampa-river-near-maybell.md) — 36 cfs (as of Aug 12, 2026)

### Snowpack
Snow water equivalent vs the 1991-2020 median, by state and river basin.

- [California snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/california.md) — Snow season over; last quoted Jun 21, 2026
- [Colorado snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/colorado.md) — Snow season over; last quoted Jun 12, 2026
- [Sierra Nevada snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/sierra-nevada.md) — Snow season over; last quoted Jun 22, 2026
- [Upper Colorado River Basin snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/upper-colorado-river-basin.md) — Snow season over; last quoted Jun 11, 2026
- [Utah snowpack](https://the-waterline.com/snowpack/utah.md) — Snow season over; last quoted Jun 3, 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)

