Projections for Lake Elevations

Predicting the future water level at Lake McConaughy is not an easy task and many variables are at play when trying to determine where the elevation may end up at the end of the summer.

Historically low inflows, along with environmental account releases from the end of May to the end of June have all contributed to elevation levels lower than the past few seasons. Around 80,000 acre feet of water was released for the environmental account.

Average inflows into Lake McConaughy are generally over 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) in the month of June with the median average at 1,500 cfs.  This year from June 1 through July 1 the average inflow was only 243 cfs.

Irrigation demand has increased towards the end of June and with lower than normal inflows, the water level is falling at a greater than normal rate.

Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin says Lake McConaughy typically drops approximately 15 feet from peak spring elevation until early September.  He foresees that drop to be higher than average this summer with a drop of between 15-20 feet. This could easily vary a couple of feet if inflows into the lake change.