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 34.02M af, 12% below the combined 5-yr median for the date (data through Oct 15, 2026).
Lake Powell #
Lake Powell water level storage is 5.25M af, 27% 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 15, 2026
Lake Mead #
Lake Mead water level storage is 6.81M af, 22% 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 15, 2026
Furthest below normal #
Blue Mesa Reservoir water level is the tracked reservoir furthest below normal, 65% under its 5-yr median (139,818 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 15, 2026
Driest basin #
Colorado (Lower) basin storage is the furthest below normal of the tracked basins, 16% under its 5-yr median.
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 15, 2026
Most drought coverage #
Utah has the most area in drought of the tracked states, 100% 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 · Utah · through Oct 13, 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 13, 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 Aug 11, 2026
CVP south-of-Delta ag #
The Central Valley Project south-of-Delta agricultural allocation stands at 28%.
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 Aug 11, 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 Aug 11, 2026
Lowest streamflow vs normal #
San Juan River near Archuleta is running 47% below its 5-yr median discharge, the furthest below normal of the tracked gauges.