Rio Grande at Otowi, NM
River level and flood forecast · Santa Fe County
Normal3.1 ftas of Mon 12 PM
The river is 5.9 ft below flood stage (9 ft).
Flow: 482 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 5 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 13 ft |
| Flood stage | 9 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (September 29, 1904) | 14.5 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 17 ftFlooding along the Rio Grande from above Cochiti Lake to Espanola exceeds the flood of 1920 and may exceed any flood level since 1740. Portions of San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos are inundated as are parts of Espanola.
- 13 ftCultivated lands upriver through San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos are being inundated. Backwater flooding is occurring where creeks and arroyos join the Rio Grande. Debris in the fast flowing water could result in debris damming at nearby bridges causing local overflows. The flow in the river is approaching the flood flow of 1941 which was estimated at 22,500 cubic feet per second.
- 9 ftFlooding of cultivated lands upstream of the Otowi gage will increase if water levels rise further. Fast flowing water could undermine the river banks.
Highest crests on record
- 14.5 ft — September 29, 1904
- 14.1 ft — May 23, 1920
- 13.54 ft — May 16, 1941
- 13.1 ft — October 7, 1911
- 12.05 ft — May 25, 1905
Recent crests: 7.22 ft (May 11, 2009) · 7.21 ft (May 24, 2008) · 8.61 ft (May 27, 2005) · 7.76 ft (June 8, 1997) · 8.44 ft (July 6, 1995)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (OTWN5); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.