Navajo Reservoir

Current Status

***Notices for the latest release changes are posted HERE.***

Navajo Reservoir - On July 1, 2026, the daily average release rate from Navajo Dam was 750 cfs. The water surface elevation was 6031.0 feet above sea level. At this elevation the live storage is 0.969 maf (59 percent of live storage capacity).[CF1.1] Diversions to Cutter Reservoir for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) and the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) were 677 cfs. The San Juan-Chama project was diverting 0 cfs from the basin above Navajo Reservoir.

Releases from Navajo Dam are made for authorized purposes of the Navajo Unit and are pursuant to the Record of Decision for the Navajo Reservoir Operations. Releases target the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program's (SJRIP) recommended downstream baseflow range of 500 cfs to 1,000 cfs through the critical habitat reach of the San Juan River (Farmington, NM to Lake Powell).

Navajo was at 6031.0 ft of pool elevation and 0.969 maf of live storage by the end of June, which was 70 percent of average[CF2.1] for the end of the month. The release averaged 710 cfs and totaled 43.7 kaf, which was 36 percent of average for the month. Preliminary modified unregulated inflow (MUI) into Navajo was 13.9 kaf, which was 7 percent of average for the month. Calculated evaporation for the month was 3.4 kaf. NIIP diverted a total of 40.5 kaf. Navajo had a net storage change of -54.8 kaf during the last month. The most probable MUI forecast for July, August, and September is -11 kaf (-23 percent of average), -1 kaf (-3 percent of average), and 25 kaf (72 percent of average), respectively.

Reclamation conducts Public Operations Meetings three times per year to gather input for determining upcoming operations for Navajo Reservoir. Input from individuals, organizations, and agencies along with other factors such as weather, water rights, endangered species requirements, flood control, hydro power, recreation, fish and wildlife management, and reservoir levels, will be considered in the development of these reservoir operation plans. In addition, the meetings are used to coordinate activities and exchange information among agencies, water users, and other interested parties concerning the San Juan River and Navajo Reservoir. The next meeting will be held on August 18th from 1-3pm. The meeting will be entirely virtual, to attend email cfelletter@usbr.gov for a meeting invite.

Conor Felletter at cfelletter@usbr.gov

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Contact

Please contact the Operations Group via e-mail at ResourceMgr@usbr.gov for additional information.

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