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SwedenRio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam water level
River gauge, Rio Grande, New Mexico, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 0.4 cfs
History
What this means
At 1.36 ft, the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam is far below normal for mid-October.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.34 ft and 1.36 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 9.26 ftMay 22, 2007
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.26 ft | May 22, 2007 |
| 2 | 7.92 ft | July 9, 2008 |
| 3 | 7.79 ft | July 21, 2004 |
| 4 | 7.63 ft | June 4, 2014 |
| 5 | 7.50 ft | June 29, 1973 |
| 6 | 7.41 ft | June 23, 2005 |
| 7 | 7.34 ft | July 4, 1972 |
| 8 | 7.32 ft | July 29, 2009 |
| 9 | 7.31 ft | July 8, 2006 |
| 10 | 7.28 ft | July 9, 1965 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Rio Grande
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande at Alameda Bridge at AlamedaRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 553 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 145 mi |
| Rio Grande near AlamedaRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 236 cfs | Low | −10.0 cfs | 144 mi |
| Rio Grande at AlbuquerqueRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 2.60 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 137 mi |
| Rio Grande at Valle De OroRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 3.81 ft | No reference yet | −0.05 ft | 130 mi |
| Rio Grande at Isleta Lakes near IsletaRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 152 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 128 mi |
| Rio Grande near Bosque FarmsRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 79.5 cfs | Normal | +8.0 cfs | 122 mi |
| Rio Grande at State Highway 346 near BosqueRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 177 cfs | Normal | +5.0 cfs | 100 mi |
| Rio Grande at Bridge near EscondidaRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 38.1 cfs | Low | −3.3 cfs | 70 mi |
| Rio Grande above Us Highway 380 near San AntonioRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 58 mi |
| Rio Grande at Narrows in Elephant Butte ReservoirRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 123 cfs | Normal | −20.0 cfs | 17 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant Butte ReservoirReservoir | 4,296.05 ft | Low | 5.6 mi | |
| Caballo ReservoirReservoir | 4,138.85 ft | Normal | 16 mi | |
| Rio Grande Floodway at San MarcialRiver gauge, Rio Grande Floodway | 12.53 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 39 mi |
| Rio Grande Conveyance Channel at San MarcialRiver gauge, Rio Grande Conveyance Channel | 178 cfs | Normal | +7.0 cfs | 39 mi |
Questions and answers
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 Grande below Elephant Butte Dam today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 02:00 AM MDT, the water level was 1.36 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam?
The highest level on record is 9.26 ft on May 22, 2007.
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.
Where does this data come from?
The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:08361000(Agency page)- Coordinates
33.14851, -107.20678(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 | 1.36 ft | 2026-10-19 08:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 0.4 cfs | 2026-10-19 08:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam (usgs:08361000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-mexico/rio-grande-below-elephant-butte-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