Colorado River Basin · Daily reservoir monitor

Five reservoirs. One daily pulse.

Daily readings and distance to critical water levels.

At a glance

Select a reservoir for details

Lake MeadElevation1,037.18 ftCapacity26.0% fullStorage change +0 AFCheckpoint37.18 ft above Lake PowellElevation3,520.77 ftCapacity22.8% fullStorage change +3,360 AFDROA target4.23 ft below Blue MesaElevation7,411.80 ftCapacity16.8% fullStorage change +245 AFInactive pool18.80 ft above Flaming GorgeElevation6,005.53 ftCapacity65.3% fullStorage change −3,330 AFInactive pool134.53 ft above Navajo ReservoirElevation6,021.54 ftCapacity51.9% fullStorage change +2,263 AFInactive pool31.54 ft above

Combined daily changeThrough Oct 20, 2026

+2,538 acre-feet

Gallon equivalent+827.0 million gallons

The five tracked reservoirs gained 2,538 acre-feet since their previous readings.

Mead

+0 AF

Powell

+3,360 AF

Blue Mesa

+245 AF

Flaming Gorge

−3,330 AF

Navajo Reservoir

+2,263 AF

Combined storage15.55M AF27.9% of combined reference capacity

Critical capacity remaining≈5,891,102 AF

Days to criticalNo net daily loss

Storage above Mead’s 1,000 ft checkpoint, Powell’s 3,500 ft checkpoint, and the inactive pools at Blue Mesa, Flaming Gorge, and Navajo. Each reservoir contributes zero once at or below its threshold. Days to critical divides remaining capacity by the latest combined daily loss, assuming that loss rate continues. Individual reservoirs may reach their thresholds sooner.

Lower Colorado · Arizona / Nevada

Lake Mead

Daily data

Observed Oct 20, 2026 · Change since Oct 19, 2026

Elevation

1,037.18 ft

+0.00 ft

Storage

6,784,840 AF

+0 AF

Now

895 ftOperating pool 1,219.60 ft

Distance to critical levels

Elevation · storage

Tier 1 shortage · 1,075 ftLower Basin shortage trigger
What this means
A reference used in Lower Basin shortage planning. Annual shortage decisions depend on official projections and operating rules; today's elevation alone does not determine a declaration or a household restriction. Official reference
37.82 ft below≈2.82M AF below
Checkpoint · 1,000 ft≈4,475,000 AF of available storage
What this means
A 1,000 ft tracking checkpoint with approximately 4,475,000 AF of available storage, excluding dead storage below 895 ft. The distances compare the latest reported elevation and storage with this reference. Checkpoint reference reviewed September 10, 2026. Official reference
37.18 ft above≈2.31M AF above
Minimum power pool · 950 ftEstimated lower limit for generation
What this means
Reclamation estimates that Hoover Dam's wide-head turbines can generate down to about 950 ft. Actual generation also depends on operating conditions and equipment. Official reference
87.18 ft above≈4.78M AF above
Dead pool · 895 ftWater can no longer pass the dam
What this means
The dead-storage reference marks water below the normal gravity-release outlet level. Water can remain in the reservoir below this line. It is different from the hydropower threshold and is not a date when the reservoir will run out. Official reference
142.18 ft above≈6.78M AF above

Distances describe elevation and storage, not time remaining. Storage conversions are approximate.

Sources, freshness & calculations

Observation: Oct 20, 2026
Source updated: Oct 21, 2026, 9:04 AM CDT
Source status: Retrieved from RISE

Elevation series & metadata · Storage series & metadata

Percent full: published storage ÷ 26,120,000 AF × 100. 26,120,000 AF of available storage below the start of exclusive flood-control space at 1,219.6 ft, as listed in the current daily report. This excludes dead storage; it is not the older 30.167 million AF gross capacity. Daily report · Project / operating reference

Threshold distances: current elevation minus the named elevation; current storage minus the reference storage. Each measure keeps its own sign. Available-capacity table: approximately 9,601,000 AF at 1,075 ft, 4,475,000 AF at the 1,000 ft checkpoint (PDF page 62), and 2,006,000 AF at 950 ft; available storage is zero at 895 ft. The 2022 allocation updates the estimated minimum power elevation to 950 ft. Table values are rounded to 1,000 AF. Capacity / allocation source

References reviewed September 5, 2026. Observations are provisional and may be revised. The refresh time is when this page checked the feeds; it is not a new reservoir observation.

Upper Colorado · Arizona / Utah

Lake Powell

Daily data

Observed Oct 20, 2026 · Change since Oct 19, 2026

Elevation

3,520.77 ft

+0.06 ft

Storage

5,304,600 AF

+3,360 AF

Now

3,370 ftFull pool 3,700.00 ft

Distance to critical levels

Elevation · storage

DROA target · 3,525 ftResponse buffer above minimum power
What this means
Drought Response Operations Agreement: a 3,525 ft planning target intended to protect the buffer above hydropower levels. Crossing it informs coordinated drought-response planning; it does not mean the turbines have stopped. Official reference
4.23 ft below≈240k AF below
Checkpoint · 3,500 ft≈4,215,805 AF of live storage
What this means
A 3,500 ft tracking checkpoint with approximately 4,215,805 AF of live storage. The table gives 5,927,802.5 AF of gross storage; subtracting 1,711,997.4 AF below 3,370 ft matches the live-storage basis used here. The distances compare the latest reported elevation and storage with this reference. Checkpoint reference reviewed September 10, 2026. Official reference
20.77 ft above≈1.09M AF above
Minimum power pool · 3,490 ftLowest elevation for hydropower
What this means
The 3,490 ft reference is the minimum power-pool elevation for Glen Canyon Dam. Water releases through other outlets are a separate capability and face their own operating constraints. Official reference
30.77 ft above≈1.56M AF above
Dead pool · 3,370 ftNo excess water can pass the dam
What this means
The dead-storage reference marks water below the normal gravity-release outlet level. Water can remain in the reservoir below this line. It is different from the hydropower threshold and is not a date when the reservoir will run out. Official reference
150.77 ft above≈5.30M AF above

Distances describe elevation and storage, not time remaining. Storage conversions are approximate.

Sources, freshness & calculations

Observation: Oct 20, 2026
Source updated: Oct 21, 2026, 8:36 AM CDT
Source status: Retrieved from RISE

Elevation series & metadata · Storage series & metadata

Percent full: published storage ÷ 23,314,000 AF × 100. 23,314,000 AF of live storage at 3,700 ft, as listed in the current daily report. Reclamation updated the area-capacity relationship in July 2022. Daily report · Project / operating reference

Threshold distances: current elevation minus the named elevation; current storage minus the reference storage. Each measure keeps its own sign. The 2017 survey table (published 2022) gives gross storage of 7,256,920.3 AF at 3,525 ft, 5,927,802.5 AF at the 3,500 ft checkpoint, and 5,454,711.5 AF at 3,490 ft. Subtracting 1,711,997.4 AF below 3,370 ft gives live references of about 5,544,923 AF, 4,215,805 AF, and 3,742,714 AF, respectively. See PDF pages 54, 57 and 58. These are approximate conversions, not forecasts. Capacity / allocation source

References reviewed September 5, 2026. Observations are provisional and may be revised. The refresh time is when this page checked the feeds; it is not a new reservoir observation.

Gunnison River · Colorado

Blue Mesa

Daily data

Observed Oct 20, 2026 · Change since Oct 19, 2026

Elevation

7,411.80 ft

+0.07 ft

Storage

138,906 AF

+245 AF

Now

7,358 ftFull pool 7,519.40 ft

Distance to critical levels

Elevation · storage

Inactive pool · 7,393 ftTop of inactive conservation storage
What this means
The boundary below the reservoir's active conservation storage. Water below it has limited availability for normal operations; this boundary is different from an empty reservoir or a household water restriction. Official reference
18.80 ft above≈59,864 AF above
Dead pool · 7,358 ftTop of dead storage
What this means
The dead-storage reference marks water below the normal gravity-release outlet level. Water can remain in the reservoir below this line. It is different from the hydropower threshold and is not a date when the reservoir will run out. Official reference
53.80 ft above≈139k AF above

Distances describe elevation and storage, not time remaining. Storage conversions are approximate.

Sources, freshness & calculations

Observation: Oct 20, 2026
Source updated: Oct 21, 2026, 8:36 AM CDT
Source status: Retrieved from RISE

Elevation series & metadata · Storage series & metadata

Percent full: published storage ÷ 827,472 AF × 100. 827,472 AF of live storage at 7,519.4 ft in the daily report. The project lists 748,430 AF of active capacity; the difference is 79,042 AF of inactive live storage. Gross capacity includes additional dead storage. Daily report · Project / operating reference

Threshold distances: current elevation minus the named elevation; current storage minus the reference storage. Each measure keeps its own sign. Inactive-pool reference: 79,042 AF, calculated as live capacity minus active capacity. Dead-pool reference: zero live storage. Elevations follow the project record. Capacity / allocation source

References reviewed September 5, 2026. Observations are provisional and may be revised. The refresh time is when this page checked the feeds; it is not a new reservoir observation.

Green River · Utah / Wyoming

Flaming Gorge

Daily data

Observed Oct 20, 2026 · Change since Oct 19, 2026

Elevation

6,005.53 ft

−0.11 ft

Storage

2,446,340 AF

−3,330 AF

Now

5,740 ftFull pool 6,040.00 ft

Distance to critical levels

Elevation · storage

Inactive pool · 5,871 ftTop of inactive conservation storage
What this means
The boundary below the reservoir's active conservation storage. Water below it has limited availability for normal operations; this boundary is different from an empty reservoir or a household water restriction. Official reference
134.53 ft above≈2.21M AF above
Dead pool · 5,740 ftTop of dead storage
What this means
The dead-storage reference marks water below the normal gravity-release outlet level. Water can remain in the reservoir below this line. It is different from the hydropower threshold and is not a date when the reservoir will run out. Official reference
265.53 ft above≈2.45M AF above

Distances describe elevation and storage, not time remaining. Storage conversions are approximate.

Sources, freshness & calculations

Observation: Oct 20, 2026
Source updated: Oct 21, 2026, 8:36 AM CDT
Source status: Retrieved from RISE

Elevation series & metadata · Storage series & metadata

Percent full: published storage ÷ 3,749,000 AF × 100. 3,749,000 AF of live storage at 6,040 ft in the daily report. The project lists 3,515,700 AF of active capacity; the difference is 233,300 AF of inactive live storage. Daily report · Project / operating reference

Threshold distances: current elevation minus the named elevation; current storage minus the reference storage. Each measure keeps its own sign. Inactive-pool reference: 233,300 AF, calculated as live capacity minus active capacity. Dead-pool reference: zero live storage. Elevations follow the project record. Capacity / allocation source

References reviewed September 5, 2026. Observations are provisional and may be revised. The refresh time is when this page checked the feeds; it is not a new reservoir observation.

San Juan River · Colorado / New Mexico

Navajo Reservoir

Daily data

Observed Oct 20, 2026 · Change since Oct 19, 2026

Elevation

6,021.54 ft

+0.25 ft

Storage

880,063 AF

+2,263 AF

Now

5,775 ftFull pool 6,085.00 ft

Distance to critical levels

Elevation · storage

Inactive pool · 5,990 ftTop of inactive conservation storage
What this means
The boundary below the reservoir's active conservation storage. Water below it has limited availability for normal operations; this boundary is different from an empty reservoir or a household water restriction. Official reference
31.54 ft above≈220k AF above
Dead pool · 5,775 ftTop of dead storage
What this means
The dead-storage reference marks water below the normal gravity-release outlet level. Water can remain in the reservoir below this line. It is different from the hydropower threshold and is not a date when the reservoir will run out. Official reference
246.54 ft above≈880k AF above

Distances describe elevation and storage, not time remaining. Storage conversions are approximate.

Sources, freshness & calculations

Observation: Oct 20, 2026
Source updated: Oct 21, 2026, 8:37 AM CDT
Source status: Retrieved from RISE

Elevation series & metadata · Storage series & metadata

Percent full: published storage ÷ 1,696,400 AF × 100. 1,696,400 AF of live capacity at 6,085 ft in the published allocation (rounded to 1,696,000 AF in the daily report). This excludes storage below the 5,775 ft dead-pool elevation. Daily report · Project / operating reference

Threshold distances: current elevation minus the named elevation; current storage minus the reference storage. Each measure keeps its own sign. Published allocation: 660,500 AF at the 5,990 ft inactive-pool boundary; zero live storage at 5,775 ft. These reference allocations come from the Annual Operating Plan reservoir statistics. Capacity / allocation source

References reviewed September 5, 2026. Observations are provisional and may be revised. The refresh time is when this page checked the feeds; it is not a new reservoir observation.

Combined storage and capacity sum these five reservoirs only. Percent full is total reported storage divided by total reference capacity; reservoirs are weighted by capacity. Acre-feet (AF) measure volume: one acre-foot covers an acre one foot deep.