Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam water level

Name: Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Rio Chama, New Mexico, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.43ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 05:15 PM MDT (34 min ago)

Flow: 182 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam is at 2.43 ft, in the normal range.

It is 2.97 ft below the flood stage of 5.40 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.43 ft and 2.53 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 5.52 ftMay 14, 1985

Floating and fishing near Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 5.40 ft, 2.97 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

5.40 ft: Initial flood stage. Approximately 1900cfs Farms and properties along the river will see overbank flooding and encroachment of water into low lying areas. If Rio Ojo Caliente is running at 550cfs or greater properties near the confluence with Rio Chama will see overbank flooding, bank erosion and impacts to structures immediately adjacent to the river. Fishing spots and picnic areas below Abiquiu Dam will be inaccessible.
4.80 ft: Bankfull Stage. Approximately 1460 cfs. Houses near Highway 84 along river will see water begin to encroach their yards. Cattle that cross the river at lower flows may be trapped on one side or the other. If flows out of the Rio Ojo Caliente are 550 cfs or higher properties near and below the confluence with the Rio Chama may encroachment of water onto land immediately adjacent to the river along with bank erosion.
2.43 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	5.52 ft	May 14, 1985
2	5.45 ft	June 12, 1970
3	5.16 ft	April 25, 1989
4	5.01 ft	June 28, 1995
5	4.83 ft	May 15, 2004
6	4.82 ft	April 27, 2010
7	4.80 ft	May 29, 1998
8	4.80 ft	April 19, 2005
9	4.76 ft	April 16, 2008
10	4.73 ft	May 29, 2009

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:16 AM Sunset 06:27 PM Daylight 11 hr, 11 min First quarter 54%

Map

Other gauges on the Rio Chama

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rio Chama above ChamaRiver gauge, Rio Chama	1.67 ft	No reference yet	−0.06 ft	49 mi
Rio Chama near La PuenteRiver gauge, Rio Chama	117 cfs	High	−13.0 cfs	32 mi
Rio Chama below El Vado DamRiver gauge, Rio Chama	2.07 ft	Below flood stage	±0	29 mi
Rio Chama above Abiquiu ReservoirRiver gauge, Rio Chama	5.16 ft	Below flood stage	±0	12 mi
Rio Chama near ChamitaRiver gauge, Rio Chama	4.08 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	20 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rio Ojo Caliente at La MaderaRiver gauge, Rio Ojo Caliente	2.60 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	22 mi
Rio Grande at EmbudoRiver gauge, Rio Grande	2.34 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	25 mi
Embudo Creek at DixonRiver gauge, Embudo Creek	9.10 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	28 mi
Rio Grande at Otowi BridgeRiver gauge, Rio Grande	3.05 ft	Below flood stage	−0.08 ft	29 mi
El Vado LakeLake	6,811.99 ft	Low		30 mi
Nambe Falls ReservoirReservoir	6,826.72 ft	Very high		33 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam?

The official flood stage is 5.40 ft. The level is currently 2.97 ft below it.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 05:15 PM MDT, the water level was 2.43 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam?

The highest level on record is 5.52 ft on May 14, 1985.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:08287000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 36.23722, -106.41742 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	2.43 ft	2026-10-18 23:15	Provisional
Flow	182 cfs	2026-10-18 23:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam (usgs:08287000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-mexico/rio-chama-below-abiquiu-dam

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer