National Climatic Data Center, 12 December 2003

• The ongoing drought and dry weather in the early fall have left southern Idaho's reservoirs at the rock bottom, even worse than last autumn. The Snake River's eight-reservoir system on Oct. 11 measured lower than at any other time in its history with 385,000 acre-feet.
• By Nov. 1, American Falls Reservoir measured 10 percent of capacity, and one-quarter of average for that time. Palisades on the Wyoming border was 18 percent capacity and also one-quarter of average.
• So, water managers shut off other reservoirs such as Henry's Lake and Island Park to start saving every drop. At the rate of refill - and no snowmelt - the system would only hold about 1.5 million acre-feet next April 1, just 36 percent of capacity.
• The desert reservoirs in extreme southern Idaho are dismal. Bear Lake was 9 percent capacity by Nov. 1; Oakley and Salmon Falls reservoir were at 4 percent. Mackay and Magic reservoirs on the southern edge of the central mountains held about 5 percent of capacity.
• Arrowrock Reservoir on the Boise River was 1 percent full after water was moved to Lucky Peak, which was 30 percent full. Cascade Reservoir on the Payette River was 57 percent of capacity and 80 percent of average.