HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MONTH
DAKOTAS AREA OFFICE
End-of-month elevation at Angostura Reservoir for the month of July was the third lowest in 55 years of record.
July inflow to Belle Fourche and Pactola Reservoirs were the fifth lowest in 55 years of record and inflows to Deerfield Reservoir were the third lowest in 54 years of record.
July end-of-month elevation at Shadehill Reservoir was the second lowest in 55 years of record.
End-of-month storage at Lake Tschida Reservoir was the eighth lowest content on record for the month of July. Inflows to the reservoir were the seventh lowest on record for the month.
Inflows to E.A. Patterson Reservoir were the fifth lowest monthly inflow on record for the month of July.
EASTERN COLORADO AREA OFFICE
The Lake Granby storage of 433,900 acre-feet (AF) on July 31, 2007, was 39,900 AF below average and 4,100 AF higher than 1 year ago. Colorado-Big Thompson Project storage water in Lake Granby, Carter Lake, and Horsetooth Reservoir was 568,000 AF on July 31, 2007, 87,300 AF below average and 70 percent of the total available storage capacity.
Total water storage in the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project at the end of July 2007, was 532,700 AF, and 67,700 AF higher than 1 year ago.
MONTANA AREA OFFICE
For the month of July, inflow to Lake Elwell was the second lowest on record; Canyon Ferry was the fourth lowest on record; Fresno Reservoir was the sixth lowest on record; inflow to Gibson Reservoir and Bighorn Lake was the seventh lowest on record; inflow to Sherburne Lake was the eighth lowest on record; and inflow to Clark Canyon Reservoir was the eleventh lowest on record.
End of July storage in Gibson Reservoir was the fourth lowest and storage in Clark Canyon Reservoir was the ninth lowest on record.
NEBRASKA-KANSAS AREA OFFICE
July precipitation recorded at Kirwin Dam was the second highest ever for the month and precipitation recorded at Medicine Creek Dam was the third highest for the month of July. Merritt Dam recorded the lowest July precipitation total ever at the site.
Storage in Bonny Reservoir reached a new historical low during the month. Storage in Waconda Lake was the lowest ever recorded at the end of July since initial filling of the reservoir.
WYOMING AREA OFFICE
Bighorn River Basin
Inflow to Buffalo Bill and Boysen Reservoirs during July were the fourth lowest in the past 30 years.
End of July storage at Boysen Reservoir was the third lowest in the last 30 years.
North Platte River Basin
Storage in Pathfinder Reservoirs was the second lowest end of July storage in the last 30 years. The Kendrick storage ownership was the lowest July ownership in the last 30 years. The Glendo ownership was the third lowest July ownership in the last 30 years.
OKLAHOMA-TEXAS AREA OFFICE
Nothing significant to report.
CORPS OF ENGINEERS - MAIN-STEM RESERVOIRS
Inflows to Fort Peck and Garrison Reservoir during the month of July were only 30 percent of normal. This was due to the below normal mountain snowpack, early melt of that snowpack, and the lack of rainfall in the upper basin. Lower basin tributary inflow remained above normal allowing for the continuation of water conservation by keeping release levels low.
Total runoff above Sioux City in July was only 35 percent of normal, the tenth lowest n the 109 years of record keeping. The revised 2007 forecast is 21.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 83 percent of normal. Normal runoff is 25.2 MAF. Reservoir storage on July 1 was 39.3 MAF, 0.9 MAF lower than last month. Normal storage for the end of July is 59.1 MAF.
Flow support for Missouri River navigation will end 35 days early this year to conserve water in the reservoirs. As in 2004, 2005, and 2006, flow support is at minimum service levels and is not being maintained in reaches where there is no commercial traffic. The following shows the last day of flow support for commercial navigation:
| Sioux City, Iowa | October 17 |
| Omaha, Nebraska | October 19 |
| Nebraska City, Nebraska | October 20 |
| Kansas City, Kansas | October 22 |
| Mouth near St. Louis, Missouri | October 26 |
The six main-stem powerplants generated 605 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in July, only 62 percent of normal. This level of generation was attributed to the lower pool levels and the decrease in releases from the dams. Total energy production for 2007 is forecasted to be 5.3 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) compared to a normal of 10 billion kWh.