HydroStatus

The Colorado River system

Lake Powell and Lake Mead are the Colorado River's two great savings accounts — together they hold the majority of the system's stored water and drive every operating decision on the river. Wondering about next year's water? See the winter outlook.

Powell + Mead combined
11.97 maf
−3.05 maf vs. a year ago
Lake Powell
5.08 maf
3,516.74 ft · details
Lake Mead
6.89 maf
1,038.72 ft · details
Vs. the recorded peak
23%
of the highest month-mean on record (52.3 maf, 1983-07)

The system at a glance

Each marker shows today's pool elevation; red names are lower than a year ago. Click any reservoir for its full page. Basemap: USGS The National Map; dam locations from USBR's hydrodata site map.

Combined storage, 1963–present

20 30 40 50 19641972198019881996200420122020
Powell + Mead end-of-month mean storage in million acre-feet, from USBR daily records. The series begins when Lake Powell first reported in 1963.

Where Lake Powell is headed

3,450 3,500 3,550 202620272028 Target elevation (drought response) (3,525 ft) Minimum power pool (3,490 ft) Observed Maximum Probable (May 2026)Most Probable (July 2026)Minimum Probable (Jul 2026)
USBR 24-Month Study end-of-month elevation scenarios for Lake Powell — separate model runs, not a statistical range.

Where Lake Mead is headed

1,000 1,020 1,040 1,060 202620272028 Level 1 shortage trigger (1,075 ft) Level 2 shortage trigger (1,050 ft) Level 3 shortage trigger (1,025 ft) Observed Maximum Probable (May 2026)Most Probable (July 2026)Minimum Probable (Jul 2026)
USBR 24-Month Study end-of-month elevation scenarios for Lake Mead — separate model runs, not a statistical range. Dashed lines: shortage-tier triggers from the 2007 Interim Guidelines (in force through 2026).

Runoff outlook

MonthPowell unregulated inflow outlook (kaf)
September 2026150
October 2026280
November 2026300
December 2026250
January 2027230
February 2027240
March 2027390
April 2027600
May 20271,650
June 20272,100
July 2027700
August 2027280

NOAA Colorado Basin River Forecast Center monthly outlook (50% exceedance ESP values), issued 9/1/2026, fetched at build — cbrfc.noaa.gov. Unregulated inflow is what would flow into Lake Powell absent upstream operations; it drives USBR's projections above.

Every tracked reservoir

ReservoirElevation (ft)Vs. 1 year (ft)As of
Taylor Park Reservoir 9,296.15 -12.98 2026-09-14
Blue Mesa Reservoir 7,414.68 -56.07 2026-09-14
Morrow Point Reservoir 7,156.4 +2.84 2026-09-14
Crystal Reservoir 6,752.6 -2.75 2026-09-14
Fontenelle Reservoir 6,498.84 +4.58 2026-09-14
Flaming Gorge Reservoir 6,008.53 -14.83 2026-09-14
Lake Powell 3,516.74 -29.54 2026-09-14
Navajo Reservoir 6,009.65 -13.05 2026-09-14
Lake Mead 1,038.72 -18.22 2026-09-14
Lake Mohave 639.12 -0.26 2026-09-14
Lake Havasu 447.32 -0.17 2026-09-14
Shasta Lake 985.83 -10.95 2026-09-14
Lake Oroville 772.56 -36.62 2026-09-14
Trinity Lake 2,321.15 -11.86 2026-09-14
New Melones Lake 1,008.24 -8.69 2026-09-14
San Luis Reservoir 489.64 +43.05 2026-09-14
Don Pedro Reservoir 791.12 -2.99 2026-09-13
Lake Berryessa 429.46 -1.17 2026-09-14
Folsom Lake 409 -2.36 2026-09-14
Pine Flat Lake 742.26 -25.09 2026-09-14
Lake McClure 790.29 -17.27 2026-09-13
Camanche Reservoir 226.73 +6.38 2026-09-13
New Bullards Bar Reservoir 1,899.13 +11.51 2026-09-14
Lake Perris 1,586.57 +0.78 2026-09-14
Castaic Lake 1,507.67 +15.81 2026-09-14
Lake Sonoma 447.74 +1.1 2026-09-14
Millerton Lake 505.15 -2.69 2026-09-14
Isabella Lake 2,558.77 -10.54 2026-09-14
New Hogan Lake 669.39 -0.49 2026-09-14

Sources and computation rules: data & methodology.