New Mexico Reservoir Volumes

 (data through 12/31/12)
Data Source(s): National Water and Climate Center

Combined water storage in the 15 New Mexican reservoirs reported here was about 19 percent of capacity and only 44 percent of average as of December 31 (Figure 7). Total reservoir storage did not change substantially from the previous month, which is common for this time of year. Combined storage on the four reservoirs on the Pecos River continues to stand at about 1 percent of capacity and about 17 percent of average. During December, storage in these reservoirs increased by a combined 4,000 acre-feet. Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs, on the Rio Grande, also are extremely low, measuring only 5 percent of capacity combined. However, the reservoirs gained about 40,000 acre-feet, because water flowing into the reservoirs was completely retained, which is typical for this time of year. Snow this winter in the mountains of northern New Mexico and the southern Colorado Rockies will be vital for boosting stock in these reservoirs. So far, however, winter precipitation is not off to a wet start. Between October 1 and January 16, precipitation in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado generally was less than 70 percent of average. Despite these below-average conditions, the winter is just beginning and there is ample time for storms to deliver copious snow and, in turn, boost reservoir storage.

Notes: