News Release Archive

High Flows Move Safely Through Albuquerque

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

For Release: September 14, 2013

Albuquerque - Higher flows moved safely through the Albuquerque area and down the Rio Grande early this morning. The flows are now moving through the Bosque Farms and Belen area.

The flows peaked at more than 5,000 cubic-feet-per-second at Alameda Bridge and 4,320 cfs early Saturday at Central Bridge in Albuquerque. The river channel was visibly flowing bank to bank but stayed far below the levees. Flows are receding but storms in the area could cause smaller spikes in the Rio Grande Saturday.

“The system is working as it was designed to operate,” said Mike Hamman, Bureau of Reclamation Albuquerque Area Manager.

The water came into the Rio Grande from an arroyo below Cochiti Dam. It peaked in the arroyo at 9,000 cfs. But the force of volume was reduced greatly as it traveled down the Rio Grande. Several habitat restoration projects with side channels for the silvery minnow are full north of Albuquerque. It is believed they may have helped to attenuate some of the flow.

The Rio Grande was flowing at close to 5,000 cfs at Isleta Diversion Dam south of Albuquerque Saturday morning. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District continues to closely monitor the river as these flows move through Isleta Pueblo, Bosque Farms, Los Lunas, Belen and Bernardo today.

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