USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

07203000 VERMEJO RIVER NEAR DAWSON, NM

LOCATION - Lat 36°40'51.7", long 104°47'11.02" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Colfax County, NM, Hydrologic Unit 11080001, in Maxwell Grant, on right bank 1.3 mi north of Dawson, 2.3 mi upstream from Rail Canyon, and at mile 28.2.

DRAINAGE AREA - 344 mi².  

REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1117: 1947, drainage area. WSP 1281: 1932(M), 1934(M), 1936-38(M), 1941-42(P), 1944-46(M). Peak discharge in water year 2006 revised to 3,370 ft³/s, Aug. 19; daily mean discharge, 159 ft³/s. Drainage area was revised to a more accurate value on Aug. 6, 2020. Discharge for the period Mar. 3, 2020, to Apr. 7, 2020, was revised on Sep. 9, 2020, based on changes to the stage-discharge rating shifts.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1915 to July 1918, April 1919 to May 1923, March 1927 to current year. Monthly discharge only for some periods, published in WSP 1311.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder with satellite telemetry and crest-stage gage. Elevation of gage is 6,360 ft above NGVD of 1929, from topographic map. See WSP 1311 or 1731 for history of changes prior to Sept. 24, 1953. Sept. 24, 1953, to May 21, 2002, at site 200 ft downstream at same datum.

REMARKS - Water years 2014-2020; records fair except for estimated discharges and discharges above 100 ft³/s, which are poor. Diversions for irrigation of small acreage and mountain meadows upstream from station.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - A major flood occurred Aug. 2, 1921, when discharge probably exceeded 10,000 ft³/s.