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4 GJJ758 twice that available a year ago. }I lOW continued to increase from springs in the Edwards limestone in which ground-water levels generally rose. In the EI Paso area. the level in the key well rose seasonally but the rise was less than average, and a record-low level for December was observed. THE WEST Runoff in Columbia River basin was in the median range; now of Columbia River near The Dalles, Oreg.. was 99 percent of median after adjusting for storage in seven major power reservoirs. Runoff in Upper Colorado River basin was .again excessive and flow of Colorado River near Grand Canyon, Ariz.. was 135 percent of median, the second highest of record for December. and excessive for the 7th successive month. For the first time since January 1956 there was no deficient flow at any key gaging station in California; the only areas of deficient runoff were in central and southern Arizona. Ground-water levels were record low for December in some wells in most States. Alberta. -In both the mountain and foothills regions runoff was above median as a result of above normal temperatures in the upper foothills and mountain areas; there was very little precipitation in the lower foothills. Oregon. :""'Minor floods occurred in western Oregon December 17-21, chiefly in McKenzie and South Santiam River basins. Storage in major reservoirs continued to increase and was well above average for December in Upper Klamath Lake and in Owyhee Reservoir. Ground-water levels in key wells in north- ern Oregon were far below average; in the key well at Portland the level was record low for December. Idaho. -Storage in irrigation reservoirs in south Idaho continued seasonal increases and were above average at end of month. Substantial withdrawals were made from storage reservoirs in north Idaho to increase flow at power plants downstream. Runoff was about median. A record-low level for December was observed in the key well tapping the Snake River basalt near Atomic City. Montana. -Runoff was generally below median and channel storage as ice has been minor as mean tem- peratures for December were about 10 degrees above average. Prairie streamflow was low. Storage in hydroelectric reservoirs was slightly below average. Slight gains in irrigation storage were observed. Wyoming. -GroL....d-water levels generally declined but remained above average. A record-high level for December was observed in the key well near Fort Laramie. Colorado. -Runoff was generally far above median, particularly in western Colorado where at the key station Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs it was record high for December. The level in.,the key well near Denver declined to a record-low stage for De- cenber and the key well near Crystal River was dry for the second consecutive month. Utah. -Streamflow continued considerably above median in the Colorado River basin and in southern" Utah and was near median in the northern part. It was record high for October at the key station Col- orado River near Cisco and the maximum daily mean discharge exceeded the previous maximum for Oc- tober by a small amount, A record-low level for December was measured in the key well in the heavily pumped Cedar City area. Nevada. -Runoff continued above median, primarily as a result of precipitation of moderate intensities which soaked the soil mantle, and moderate tempera- tures which prevented channel storage as ice. Reser- voir storage remained slightly below average but in- creases were noted in ,all major rese-rvoirs during the month. The water level in the key well in Las Vegas valley rose but was record low for December. California. -Runoff was excessive in northern California and above median in much of the remainder of the State. For the first time since January 1956 there was no deficient runoff at any key gaging station. Storage in northern California ,;reservoirs continued at above average levels. Arizona. -Runoff was far above median in northern Arizona and below median to deficient in the central and southern parts of the State. Storage continued to increase in the Salt and Verde River reservoirs but declined in other principal reservoirs. The level in the key well near Tucson rose only slightly and was record low for December. New Mexico. -Flow in most unregulated streams decreased during the latter part of the month but re- mained well above median. Storage in Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs increased to within 2 percent of the 19-year average; 750,000 acre-ft more than a year ago. Although seasonal rises in water level were observed in the Berrendo, Deming and House wells, levels in all key wells were at or below pre- vious minimums for December. Prepared by W. S. Eisenlobr. E. W. Reed, and J. K. Searcy tllT.-DUr. SEC.. .ASII..D.C.a.u