- While the river channel and drainage ditches can handle higher flows, we urge the public to stay away from areas in the immediate vicinity of the river channel.
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These areas may be unstable and dangerous.
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Please use extra caution near the river channel and protect or remove any valuable property in these areas.
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If boating, please use the proper life jacket.
General Information:
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The 2019 spring runoff is the highest volume of snowmelt runoff in the Rio Grande since 2005.
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While the releases are higher than seen in recent years, we are NOT in flood-control operation stage.
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The Rio Grande flow is unpredictable due to weather and snowmelt. The Corps continues to monitor and make adjustments as needed.
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As of May 2, 2019, the release rate from Cochiti Dam is 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the main stem of the Rio Grande continues to increase in flow.
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For reference, one cubic foot per second is roughly equivalent to the volume of a basketball, so we are releasing about 5,000 basketballs out of Cochiti Dam each second.
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For the most current release rate at all Albuquerque District dams, visit http://w3.spa.usace.army.mil/wc/htmlrpts/CorpsResSum.htm
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Water takes 3-4 days to travel down the Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam to Elephant Butte.
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Downstream conditions are being closely monitored by USACE as well as our partners to ensure that the higher flows can safely pass downstream.
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Legal reasons for the higher releases:
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We can’t store any water at Cochiti Lake
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By law (Rio Grande Compact and the federal authorizations Cochiti has), we have to pass what comes into the lake through the dam.
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Cochiti is only authorized for flood-control and a recreation pool.
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Higher flows are beneficial to the general health of the river and its ecosystem.
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Higher flows help flush sediments out of the river channel, increasing its capacity so that it can pass higher flood flows.
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Higher flows also help the diverse ecosystem, including endangered species (such as the silvery minnow).
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It also helps the cottonwood trees reproduce.
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The higher releases are part of our normal operational procedures.
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Releases from Abiquiu are currently at 1,600 cfs and expected to increase to 1,800 cfs by the end of the week (April 29).
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Downstream conditions are being closely monitored by USACE.
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The release rate may be changed or reduced if the precipitation forecast shows a risk of exceeding safe channel capacity in the Rio Chama, or if river conditions warrant.