# Dolores-Colorado Surges to 116 cfs, Up 705.6% on the Week _Sep 16, 2026_ > 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. _Numbers as of Sep 16, 2026 pull._ 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). [Chart: Elephant Butte Reservoir storage](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/elephant-butte-reservoir) ([data](https://the-waterline.com/reservoir/elephant-butte-reservoir.md) — chart image: https://the-waterline.com/charts/issues/water/2026-09-16/reservoir/elephant-butte-reservoir.png) - **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. --- Canonical URL: https://the-waterline.com/issues/2026-09-16