USGS Streamgage 08285500
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM is USGS streamgage 08285500 in New Mexico, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 13020102. It drains a watershed of about 877 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1914. Typical flow runs near 433.1 cfs in July and 516.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- New Mexico
- Drainage area
- 877 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 6,696 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 13020102
- Coordinates
- 36.58038, -106.72477
- USGS site number
- 08285500
- Records begin
- 1914-05-10 (112 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 56 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32.4 | 104.2 | 247.4 | |
| February | 30.8 | 105 | 317 | |
| March | 40.1 | 163.7 | 590.4 | |
| April | 104.9 | 516.3 | 1,676.2 | |
| May | 277.9 | 974.1 | 3,115.2 | |
| June | 182.9 | 645 | 1,414.6 | |
| July | 109.1 | 433.1 | 846.2 | |
| August | 78.6 | 427.5 | 847.5 | |
| September | 62.1 | 352.3 | 793.8 | |
| October | 56.7 | 152.4 | 461.7 | |
| November | 53.8 | 137.5 | 443.9 | |
| December | 53.5 | 176.6 | 592.5 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 974.1 cfs, against 104.2 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 104.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 32.4 and 247.4 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 08285500 begin in 1914, about 112 years, covering roughly 9,126 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM?
- The gauge sits at 36.58038, -106.72477, in New Mexico, in hydrologic subbasin 13020102, at an elevation of about 6,696 feet, draining roughly 877 square miles.
- Can I use Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, NM data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.