Avalon Reservoir
Avalon Reservoir held 4,832 acre-feet on Nov 2, 2026, 78.9% of its full pool: much above normal for the date (the middle of past years is 20.6%).
A diversion forebay for irrigation canals, routinely drawn down. On Pecos River. Pecos basin.
These reservoirs hold water for later use. Percent full is the water held divided by what the reservoir can hold at its full pool, using the capacity that applied at the time.
Last 365 days
Percent of the full pool, against the middle and spread of the same date in other years (the shaded bands: the middle half and the 10th to 90th percentile of past years).
- Median of past years
- Percent of full pool
- 10th–90th percentile of past years
- Middle half of past years
Show the data as a table
Year by year
The highest, average and lowest percent of the full pool in each calendar year. The latest year is partial. Years whose capacity is less certain are marked in the table below.
- Highest
- Average
- Lowest
Show the data as a table
The comparison uses 19 years of 1991-2020 whose capacity figure is published, current-table, high- or medium-confidence, 1991–2020, pooling 3 days either side of each date.
Readings are what the operating agencies report; we have not audited the latest values. Reclamation labels its data "provisional and subject to revision unless otherwise noted."
Year-by-year table, with how well capacity is known
| Year | Days | Most (acre-feet) | Average | Least | Highest % | Average % | Lowest % | Capacity figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 306 | 4,832 | 3,098 | 1,815 | 78.9% | 50.6% | 29.6% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2025 | 365 | 4,119 | 2,759 | 2,060 | 67.3% | 45.1% | 33.6% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2024 | 366 | 3,033 | 2,108 | 869 | 49.5% | 34.4% | 14.2% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2023 | 365 | 2,117 | 1,029 | 0 | 34.6% | 16.8% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2022 | 365 | 3,008 | 1,400 | 0 | 49.1% | 22.9% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2021 | 365 | 5,692 | 2,309 | 613 | 93.0% | 37.7% | 10.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2020 | 366 | 4,638 | 1,785 | 0 | 75.7% | 29.2% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2019 | 365 | 3,282 | 1,395 | 0 | 53.6% | 22.8% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2018 | 365 | 3,683 | 1,451 | 0 | 60.2% | 23.7% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2017 | 365 | 3,215 | 1,778 | 0 | 52.5% | 29.0% | 0.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2016 | 366 | 5,074 | 2,405 | 788 | 82.9% | 39.3% | 12.9% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2015 | 365 | 5,213 | 2,953 | 1,080 | 85.1% | 48.2% | 17.6% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2014 | 365 | 8,069 | 2,566 | 357 | 131.8% | 41.9% | 5.8% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2013 | 365 | 6,028 | 2,511 | 826 | 98.4% | 41.0% | 13.5% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2012 | 366 | 2,861 | 1,879 | 918 | 46.7% | 30.7% | 15.0% | The operator's current table fits the record |
| 2011 | 365 | 2,948 | 1,648 | 347 | 48.1% | 26.9% | 5.7% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2010 | 365 | 3,266 | 1,810 | 675 | 53.3% | 29.6% | 11.0% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2009 | 365 | 3,185 | 1,648 | 790 | 52.0% | 26.9% | 12.9% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2008 | 366 | 3,027 | 1,651 | 966 | 49.4% | 27.0% | 15.8% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2007 | 365 | 2,794 | 1,581 | 619 | 45.6% | 25.8% | 10.1% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2006 | 365 | 2,794 | 1,465 | 619 | 45.6% | 23.9% | 10.1% | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2005 | 365 | 4,466 | 1,832 | 1,026 | 72.9% | 29.9% | 16.8% | Capacity recovered from the record, well supported |
| 2004 | 366 | 4,466 | 2,113 | 732 | 72.9% | 34.5% | 12.0% | Capacity recovered from the record, well supported |
| 2003 | 365 | 2,204 | 1,118 | 3 | 36.0% | 18.3% | 0.0% | Capacity recovered from the record, well supported |
| 2002 | 365 | 3,678 | 1,845 | 21 | 60.1% | 30.1% | 0.3% | Capacity recovered from the record, well supported |
| 2001 | 365 | 3,430 | 1,719 | 619 | 56.0% | 28.1% | 10.1% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 2000 | 366 | 2,590 | 1,200 | 19 | 42.3% | 19.6% | 0.3% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1999 | 365 | 4,200 | 1,452 | 18 | 68.6% | 23.7% | 0.3% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1998 | 365 | 3,430 | 1,830 | 732 | 56.0% | 29.9% | 12.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1997 | 365 | 3,030 | 1,533 | 56 | 49.5% | 25.0% | 0.9% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1996 | 366 | 3,790 | 1,145 | 0 | 61.9% | 18.7% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1995 | 365 | 2,560 | 903 | 0 | 41.8% | 14.7% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1994 | 365 | 2,030 | 995 | 0 | 33.2% | 16.2% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1993 | 365 | 2,480 | 1,234 | 391 | 40.5% | 20.2% | 6.4% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1992 | 366 | 5,000 | 1,786 | 616 | 81.7% | 29.2% | 10.1% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1991 | 365 | 3,620 | 1,540 | 573 | 59.1% | 25.2% | 9.4% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1990 | 365 | 2,330 | 1,287 | 573 | 38.1% | 21.0% | 9.4% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1989 | 365 | 2,710 | 884 | 63 | 44.3% | 14.4% | 1.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1988 | 366 | 3,883 | 1,566 | 90 | 63.4% | 25.6% | 1.5% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1987 | 365 | 4,998 | 3,264 | 662 | 81.6% | 53.3% | 10.8% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1986 | 365 | 5,390 | 2,626 | 532 | 88.0% | 42.9% | 8.7% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1985 | 365 | 4,520 | 2,031 | 0 | 73.8% | 33.2% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1984 | 366 | 4,900 | 1,991 | 616 | 80.0% | 32.5% | 10.1% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1983 | 365 | 3,280 | 1,613 | 532 | 53.6% | 26.3% | 8.7% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1982 | 365 | 3,160 | 1,404 | 0 | 51.6% | 22.9% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1981 | 365 | 4,340 | 2,145 | 712 | 70.9% | 35.0% | 11.6% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1980 | 335 | 4,880 | 2,115 | 144 | 79.7% | 34.5% | 2.4% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1979 | 310 | 5,620 | 2,991 | 406 | 91.8% | 48.9% | 6.6% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1978 | 365 | 5,570 | 2,902 | 0 | 91.0% | 47.4% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1977 | 365 | 4,200 | 2,136 | 0 | 68.6% | 34.9% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1976 | 366 | 3,940 | 2,274 | 686 | 64.3% | 37.1% | 11.2% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1975 | 365 | 5,070 | 2,238 | 494 | 82.8% | 36.6% | 8.1% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1974 | 365 | 6,170 | 2,483 | 364 | 100.8% | 40.6% | 5.9% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1973 | 365 | 5,520 | 2,581 | 406 | 90.2% | 42.2% | 6.6% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1972 | 366 | 5,570 | 1,879 | 106 | 91.0% | 30.7% | 1.7% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1971 | 365 | 3,770 | 1,704 | 268 | 61.6% | 27.8% | 4.4% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1970 | 365 | 5,020 | 2,479 | 472 | 82.0% | 40.5% | 7.7% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1969 | 93 | 5,420 | 4,365 | 791 | 88.5% | 71.3% | 12.9% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1968 | 274 | 3,810 | 2,032 | 845 | 62.2% | 33.2% | 13.8% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1967 | 353 | 4,560 | 2,260 | 587 | 74.5% | 36.9% | 9.6% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1966 | 365 | 8,820 | 1,954 | 540 | 144.0% | 31.9% | 8.8% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
| 1965 | 92 | 1,480 | 711 | 0 | 24.2% | 11.6% | 0.0% | Before elevation records began; capacity extrapolatednot used for "this date in other years" |
About this reservoir
The Carlsbad Irrigation District's diversion reservoir immediately above Carlsbad, the last impoundment before water enters the canals. It is operated as a forebay, not as storage, and is routinely drawn down or emptied.
How to use these numbers
- Diversion operations. The pattern of fills and drawdowns shows canal operations, not hydrology.
- Pecos flood peaks. Surcharges above full pool, such as September 2014, record lower Pecos floods.
Read before quoting a number
- A low reading usually means the district was moving water, not that the Pecos was dry. The annual minimum is close to meaningless.
The dam
| Dam | Avalon Dam |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bureau of Reclamation (Federal) |
| Operated with | Bureau of Reclamation |
| Type | Earth |
| Purposes, per the dam registry | Irrigation, Other, Water Supply |
| Completed | 1907 |
| Height | 58 feet |
| Hazard class | High |
| Registry capacity | 20,000 acre-feet at most, 4,334 normal. Owner-reported and not corrected for sediment. |
National Inventory of Dams, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
How capacity is known
Capacity comes from the operator's elevation-to-storage table (USBR, effective 2020-01-01), checked against the storage the operator reports. Since the table took effect, it reproduces reported storage from reported elevation to within 0 acre-feet in the median (0.01% of storage), across 2,496 days. Where an older table was in force, we recover its capacity from the record and say how well supported it is.
| Pool | Elevation (ft) | Capacity now (acre-feet) | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full poolused as 100% | 3,179 | 6,123 | detected from the record: 72 days at or above 3,178 ft and one above 3,179 in 26 years |
Capacity over time (3 tables in force)
| Period | Capacity (acre-feet) | How well supported |
|---|---|---|
| 2002-01-01 to 2005-12-312002-2005 table | 6,123 | Capacity recovered from the record, well supported |
| 2006-01-01 to 2011-12-312006-2011 table | 6,123 | Capacity recovered from the record, moderately supported |
| 2012-01-01 to 2026-11-02current table | 6,123 | The operator's current table fits the record |
Rivers
Data and sources
Record from 1965 (62 years with readings), through Nov 2, 2026. Where several agencies report the same reservoir, we take each day's value from the first in this list that has one:
- Bureau of Reclamation HydroData: 21,786 days
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CWMS: 65 days
Year by year (CSV) · Last 365 days (CSV)
Credit: Bureau of Reclamation HydroData; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CWMS; National Inventory of Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Capacity analysis by New Mexico Water. Data accessed November 4, 2026.