NEW MEXICO FLOW REPORT

Last Updated: January 6, 2026

New Mexico's river enthusiasts should take note of the current trends across the state's waterways, particularly the Rio Grande and its tributaries, which are experiencing variable streamflows. Currently, the Rio Grande at Otowi Bridge is flowing at 815 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is only 37.25% of the normal flow for this location, indicating a substantial flow drought. Similarly, the streamflow at the Rio Grande near Cerro shows 400 cfs, at 49.92% of its normal rate. Conversely, the Rio Grande below Cochiti Dam is witnessing an increase to 817 cfs, 58.92% of the expected flow, enough to interest whitewater enthusiasts for potential recreational activities. The Rio Chama, another significant contributor to the Rio Grande, is reporting a streamflow of 104 cfs above the Abiquiu Reservoir, significantly below normal at -12.86%, which could impact water availability and river activities in the region.

Particularly notable is the increase at San Felipe with a 15.4 cfs change in 24 hours to 532 cfs, falling below the normal rate by 11.7%, posing potential challenges for water management. The Rio Grande Floodway at San Marcial shows a contrasting figure with a minor reduction and a flow of 607 cfs, which is a marginal 1.54% of the normal flow for this site, possibly indicating a localized condition or water diversion in effect. In the northwest, the San Juan River near Archuleta and the Animas River at Farmington reveal below-normal flows, 280 cfs and 267 cfs respectively, which are likely to affect river-based recreation and ecosystems in the area. These variances in streamflows hint at a larger picture of water resource fluctuations, with some areas experiencing reduced flow suitable for conservation concerns and others seeing enough water to sustain recreational river activities, though caution is advised given the dynamic streamflow changes.