USGS Water-Year Summary 2025

08359500 RIO GRANDE AT NARROWS IN ELEPHANT BUTTE RES., NM

LOCATION - Lat 33°23'10", long 107°09'45" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Sierra County, NM, Hydrologic Unit 13020211, on right bank 19 miles northeast of Truth or Consequences (formerly Hot Springs), Sierra County. 

DRAINAGE AREA - 28,500 mi². (approximate and includes 2,940 mi² in closed basin in San Luis Valley, Colo.)

REVISIONS HISTORY - Peak discharge qualifiers for Water Years 2018 to 2022 were revised on Mar. 3, 2025, based on missing qualifier, affected by regulation or diversion. 

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - May 2012 to current year. Published as Rio Grande at the narrows, in Elephant Butte Reservoir, May 1951 to Sept. 1957.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder with satellite telemetry and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 4387.42 ft above NAVD88 as determined by a GNSS Level II rapid-static survey performed by the USGS on June 5, 2020. Prior to May 21, 2012, at site 300 ft upstream at datum 23.741 ft lower. Prior to Aug. 25, 1953, at site 600 ft upstream at datum 10.041 ft lower.

REMARKS - Water year 2014; records good except for estimated discharges, which are poor. Water years 2015-2019; records fair except for estimated discharges, which are poor. Water year 2020; records good. Water years 2021-2024; records fair except for estimated discharges, which are poor. Diversions for irrigation about 775,000 acres above station. Zero at gage datum is 62.959 ft below crest of spillway at Elephant Butte Dam.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum flood known occurred in October 1904 (discharge, about 50,000 ft³s).