NM River Levels This Year

[mtncat]

Originally Posted by rruff

Average snow level is 1 inch from Dec to Feb (7,000 ft), with total snow fall of 39 inches... we got more than double that last year.
RUIDOSO 2 NNE, NEW MEXICO - Climate Summary

That is the snowiest spot in the area, BTW. Other spots that are drier (but still above 6500 ft) get 15-30 inches of snow on avg. It looks like snowfall is normally ~15 inches farther south, at Mountain Park, Pinion, and Mayhill. Only Cloudcroft is higher at 80 inches avg (and even some snow staying on the ground) but it is 9,000 ft also.

We, at Mountain Park, have not had 4 inches of snow total all winter long. Last year we got maybe 12 inches total if we were real lucky.
CLoudcroft (FYI is not at 9,000' elevation) maybe has had a total of about 24 or so inches this year.

[Cali-girl]

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

Link to an Albuq Journal article:

Albuquerque Journal

Because of the huge snowfalls in northern NM and southern CO, they are expecting river levels 72-83% above normal in the Rio Grande this year. Similar high levels are also expected in many other rivers. This is good news for the state overall, considering the recent droughts that have been experienced across the southwest.

[My heart still goes out to the New Mexicans up north who have had to endure massive recent snowfalls. Fortunately, there has been a great response to their predicament by the American Legion and other groups]

We overlook the Rio Grande valley here in southern NM (when we're not in California). Thank you so much for your post - I was wondering how the water situation was since here we have had a very dry fall & winter. There are pools of shallow water in the Rio Grande - I would like to see water levels return to what it was last year. There were those beautiful white herons at the river's banks as well as other birds and I would like them to return.

In the summer there was a river rafting event at the park adjacent to the river - lots of people having fun - that would be great to have that event return.

Thanks again for posting and I hope the EBID sends us more water in the river.

~Cali-girl