ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Albuquerque District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), anticipates extended high flow conditions along the Rio Chama downstream of Abiquiu Dam and along the Rio Grande downstream of Cochiti Dam through the spring of 2019. This is based on the snowmelt forecast in the April Water Supply Outlook Report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
USACE projections show that these stream flows are likely to result in the need to make high releases from Abiquiu Dam for as long as two months this year as snowmelt runoff is regulated to maintain safe flows downstream of the dam.
Downstream of Cochiti Dam, the river conditions through Albuquerque down to Elephant Butte Reservoir are expected to be the highest sustained flows since 2005. These high flows could extend for as long as two months or more.
USACE has already started enhanced outreach, communication, and river monitoring efforts with stakeholders. These efforts will continue and be stepped up as necessary to insure public safety.
More information is available on our website: https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Media/RioGrande/
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Release no. 19-001