Figure 7. New Mexico Reservoir Levels (through 9/30/09)
Source: National Water and Climate Center

The total reservoir storage in New Mexico declined by about 88,000 acre-feet in September. Heron Reservoir levels had the largest drop, falling 45,000 acre-feet. Elephant Butte Reservoir, which declined by more than 18,000 acre-feet, is currently only at 20 percent of capacity, well below its historical September average of 55 percent (Figure 7). Eastern New Mexico reservoirs—Brantley, Sumner, and Conchas—reported increases in storage.

In water-related news, the $216 million Buckman Direct Diversion project aimed at reducing reliance on Santa Fe River reservoirs is progressing as planned and within budget (Santa Fe New Mexican, October 5). The project diverts water from the Rio Grande to provide drinking water to Santa Fe and the surrounding county.

Notes: The map gives a representation of current storage levels for reservoirs in New Mexico. Reservoir locations are numbered within the blue circles on the map, corresponding to the reservoirs listed in the table. The cup next to each reservoir shows the current storage level (blue fill) as a percent of total capacity. Note that while the size of each cup varies with the size of the reservoir, these are representational and not to scale. Each cup also represents last year’s storage level (dotted line) and the 1971–2000 reservoir average (red line).

The table details more exactly the current capacity level (listed as a percent of maximum storage). Current and maximum storage levels are given in thousands of acre-feet for each reservoir. One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of 1 foot (approximately 325,851 gallons). On average, 1 acre-foot of water is enough to meet the demands of 4 people for a year. The last column of the table list an increase or decrease in storage since last month. A line indicates no change.

These data are based on reservoir reports updated monthly by the National Water and Climate Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). For additional information, contact Larry Martinez, NRCS, Larry.Martinez@az.usda.gov.

More Information:
The most recent reports can be accessed at the WCC-NRCS Web site: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/reservoir/resv_rpt.html.