News Release Archive

Water Management Agencies Prepare for Higher Flows in Albuquerque Area

Media Contact: Mary Perea Carlson, (505) 462-3576

For Release: September 13, 2013

Albuquerque - Higher flows are expected to come down the Rio Grande through the Albuquerque Metro area late tonight and early tomorrow morning.

Water managers from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District expect the flows to peak at around 6,000 cubic-feet-per-second based on readings from an upstream gage. This flow is expected to be contained within the levees in the metro area. The flow could last several hours at that level.

People should stay out of the Rio Grande Bosque for the next 12 to 24 hours as a precaution.

The water came into the Rio Grande from an arroyo below Cochiti Dam. It peaked in the arroyo at 9,000 cfs. But that flow is expected to be reduced to about 6,000 cfs by the time it reaches Albuquerque. The National Weather Service is also advising of additional flows that are coming from numerous arroyos due to a slowly moving storm system.

Residents living along the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque should be on alert as these flows reach that area tomorrow.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.