The hero of California's last drought, the mighty Colorado River, is suffering its own water shortage this time due to a dry spell in the West that has left pockets of five states in Dust Bowl-like conditions and dropped Lake Powell--the river's jewel reservoir--to its lowest level in 15 years.

Nonetheless, California, facing the most widespread water shortage in the Western United States, is negotiating what could be an unprecedented deal that would again tap the Colorado River to ease some painful effects of drought on Southern California cities.

The deal, which needs the approval of the six other Western states that use the river, would not eliminate the need for water rationing. It would avert a worse shortage by taking water out of storage to give Southern California more than its yearly share of the river--in practice, withdrawing from savings to cover this year's bills.

"I think we're going to find a way for California's needs to be met this year," said Wayne Cook, executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission in Salt Lake City, which represents Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico.

During the last big California drought, in 1976-77, the Colorado River saved Southern California from the severe rationing that became common in Northern California. With less water available within California, the Southland took more than usual out of the Colorado.

This time, the bleak drought forecast by California officials already assumed an extra share of Colorado River water being pumped into Southern California.

Also unlike the 1976-77 drought, the dry weather this time extends across the entire West, including the watersheds that replenish the Colorado.

The drought toll is most visible at Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border. Boat ramps are stranded high and dry by a 60-foot drop in the immense lake, which took more than a decade to fill after the Glen Canyon Dam was completed on the Colorado River in 1966. But, due to natural conditions, Colorado River flow into Lake Powell is expected to reach 5 million acre-feet this year, up from 3.2 million acre-feet in 1990 and the most since the 7.8 million acre-feet in 1987.

Elsewhere, Reno and northern Nevada are enduring the third-driest winter since the Nevada territory became a state, with less than an inch of moisture.

"We're talking about something that is almost unheard of," said Nevada climatologist John James, chairman of the governor's drought task force.