New state-of-the-art evaporation monitoring and data systems improve understanding of reservoir losses
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyo. and Utah, July 9, 2026 — The Upper Division States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, through the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC), in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), are advancing a multi-reservoir evaporation measurement and monitoring effort that is improving our understanding of reservoir evaporation losses. The effort supports more accurate, data-informed water management throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin.
The Reservoir Evaporation Project focuses on the Upstream Initial Units — Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa and Navajo reservoirs — and represents a coordinated Upper Basin effort to strengthen scientific understanding of evaporation under increasingly arid conditions.
The project underscores the shared commitment of the Upper Basin states and Reclamation to invest in better science, improved data integration, and collaborative solutions that support long-term reliability and resilience across the Colorado River system.