ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District announced today that the flow rate and water levels downstream of Cochiti Dam have returned to normal after an unintended water release from the dam caused fluctuations in the Rio Grande channel yesterday.
The peak water fluctuation has already passed Albuquerque and will continue to decline as it moves further downstream. USACE-Albuquerque District personnel observed no damage along the channel.
Flow rates in the channel were recorded at about 550 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Albuquerque and about 880 cfs at Isleta Lakes early this afternoon. These flow rates are well within channel capacity.
The cause of the unintended water release was a procedural error during routine maintenance. Cochiti Dam is functioning properly and is not compromised in any way.
The USACE-Albuquerque District is currently conducting an internal review of the procedural error.
The release of water was approximately 8,000 cfs between 10:00 am and 10:50 am, Feb. 25.
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Release no. 25-006