USGS Streamgage 08359500
Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM
Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM is USGS streamgage 08359500 in New Mexico, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 13020211. It drains a watershed of about 28,500 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1951. Typical flow runs near 157.5 cfs in July and 259.5 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- New Mexico
- Drainage area
- 28,500 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 4,387 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 13020211
- Coordinates
- 33.38618, -107.16309
- USGS site number
- 08359500
- Records begin
- 1951-04-01 (75 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 74 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 | 273.8 | 527.2 | 780.8 | |
| February | 416.4 | 569.8 | 945 | |
| March | 235.4 | 478.7 | 1,206.4 | |
| April | 83.2 | 259.5 | 2,154.7 | |
| May | 72.7 | 670.7 | 3,849 | |
| June | 32.1 | 270.7 | 3,862 | |
| July | 14.7 | 157.5 | 2,236.1 | |
| August | 27.3 | 224.3 | 1,606 | |
| September | 21 | 99.3 | 715.1 | |
| October | 14.4 | 105 | 750.9 | |
| November | 18.1 | 314.5 | 1,232.8 | |
| December | 102 | 584.4 | 1,458.9 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 670.7 cfs, against 99.3 cfs in September, 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 Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 527.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 273.8 and 780.8 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 08359500 begin in 1951, about 75 years, covering roughly 5,183 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., NM?
- The gauge sits at 33.38618, -107.16309, in New Mexico, in hydrologic subbasin 13020211, at an elevation of about 4,387 feet, draining roughly 28,500 square miles.
- Can I use Rio Grande at Narrows In Elephant Butte Reservoir., 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.