Navajo Reservoir rises nearly 60 feet to highest level since 2019

Navajo Reservoir rose nearly 60 feet (18 meters) between 20 September and 7 November 2026, reaching its highest level since August 2019, NASA said, citing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers measurements. The reservoir in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado had grown little in the spring after a winter of unusually low snow, although snowmelt often raises levels in spring.

Storage rose from 60% of the average for the September date to 108% of the average for the November date. Those figures compare the water held with the usual amount for each date, not with the reservoir’s maximum capacity.

The reservoir stores San Juan River water used for local irrigation; water released downstream can also reach the Colorado River in Utah.

Rain refills the reservoir and floods communities

Heavy rain in late October and early November swelled the San Juan, Piedra and other rivers and rapidly raised the reservoir, NASA said. Its comparison used images from the Landsat 9 satellite. Before the comparison period, the Bureau of Reclamation had reduced releases from Navajo Dam on 16 September and 17.

The Bureau of Reclamation’s separate reservoir data are provisional and subject to review and modification.

The storms also caused damaging floods, with rivers reaching record or near-record levels in places. Pagosa Springs, Colorado, was especially hard-hit: officials ordered evacuations, responders rescued dozens of people, and water flooded streets and damaged property.

In its November 3 summary, the U.S. Drought Monitor said short-term drought had ended in the Southwest and Great Basin. Long-term drought nevertheless persisted in places.