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00,)705 consecutive month at the key station Saugeen River at Port Elgin. Michigan. Runoff was in the median range and ground-water levels were about average, but in the southern part of the Southern Peninsula runoff was almost deficient and ground-water levels were at or near record-low stages as a result of an early freeze- up and low precipitation. In southeastern Michigan, levels of Cass, Whitmore, and Portage Lakes were lowest for December since 1942, but other lakes in southern Michigan were near but generally below the median December level. Wisconsin. Runoff decreased considerably through- out the State as winter arrived. Most streams were ice covered by early December, and reservoir levels dropped substantially for the first time since February 1958. Ground-water levels generally remained well below average and a record-low stage was measured in the key well near Bevant for the seventh consecutive month. Illinois.- Runoff was well below median throughout the State owing to below average precipitation and temperature. In northwestern Illinois the key station, Pecatonica River at Freeport, flow was deficient for the twelfth consecutive month and was lowest in the 44 years of record. Contents of Lake Bloomington decreased to 76 percent of average. MIDCONTINENT REGION Runoff was generally below median or deficient ex- cept in southern Texas where runoff continued to be excessive. North Dakota.-At month's end snow. in some areas over 1-foot deep, covered most of the State, except for a bare area south and southwest of Jamestown. The majority of small streams were frozen solid. Ground- water levels generally were below average except in the north-central part where they were above average. South Dakota.-Runoff continued low over most of South Dakota. Precipitation was again below normal, and there is virtually no snow c.over in the State ex- cept for the higher elevations of the Black Hills. Ice cover is about average. lowa.-Flow was generally below median or defi- cient and at the key station, Big Sioux River at Akron, it was above the minimum for the month for the first time since July although it was the second lowest December of record. Levels in both key wells de- clined., and the level in the key well near Marion was cQnsiderably below average. Texas.-Runoff of most streams heading on the Edwards Plateau and crossing the Balcones fault zone was in the excessive discharge range for the fifth consecutive month. Discharge of the Guadalupe River above Comal River at New Braunfels was in the ex- cessive range for 13 of the past 15 months. Flow from springs in the Balcones fault zone was generally above average and steady. Average discharge from Carnal Springs at New Braunfels during December was nearly 360 cfs ~ the highest monthly average since lVlay 1947. From the Colorado River eastward. 3 streamflow receded to far below usually expected seasonal amounts except in the lower Colorado, Brazos, and Trinity Rivers where flow was sustained by re- leases from upriver reservoirs. Water levels in the Edwards limestone rose in the Buda and Uvalde areas but declined in the San Antonio area. The level in the key well near Buda was the highest of 15. years of record. A record-high level for December was measured in the key well tapping the Carrizo sand near La Pryor. Record-low levels for December were observed in key wells in the heavily pumped EI Paso and Houston areas. THE WEST Runoff in the southwestern part of the region was generally deficient and that from streams originating at high elevations in the northwest was excessive owing principally to warm weather that caused some. snowmelt. Flow of Colorado River near Grand Canyon, Ariz., was 96 percent of median. Flow of Columbia River near The Dalles, Oreg., was 155, percent of median and excessive, after adjusting for storage in eight major power reservoirs. Ground-water levels generally remained below average. Washington.-Runoff from streams with sources at high elevations was above median or excessive as a result of the relatively high temperatures which caused some snowmelt. Runoff from low-elevation streams was about median. Ground-water levels in the Puget Sound area were about average and in the eastern part of the State the levels were slightly above average. Idaho.-Runoff varied from near median in the southern and extreme northern parts to nearly 400 percent of median in the central and north-central areas. Storage for irrigation in south Idaho continued above average and was increasing at about average rates; storage in power reservoirs in north Idaho was far above average and practically unchanged from November. Brownlee Reservoir on Snake River reached 1,017,000 acre-ft (capacity 1,428,000 at:re-ft) during its ini tial fill. I f Montana.-Streamflow was generally above median west of the Continental Divide as a result of mild winter weather and above-normal precipitation; east of the Divide flow was below median or deficient. Reservoir storage increased slightly in irrigation reservoirs and withdrawals from hydroel~ctric res- ervoirs were small. Utah.-Streamflow was near median. As of the end of December the accumulation of snow was the lowest of record. ~ter content of the snow varies from 12 to 72 percent of the 1938-52 average. With normal precipitation for the remainder of thp. winter months, streamflow forecasts range from 34 to 84 percent of average. Moisture in the soil beneath the snowpack is considerably below average as a result of the dry summer and fall. Prospective water supplies for the coming irrigation season are not encouraging as of this date. Reservoir supplies in the principal reser- voirs are 377,000 acre-ft above the iii-year average; however. this greater than a\'erag€' storage is in three holdover reservoirs -"namely, Bear Lake, Utah Lake, and Strawberry .Reservoir. The level