Blue River
Streamflow, conditions and background by watershed segment. Data through November 1, 2026.
Where it is
Segments are the HUC8 watersheds the gauges sit in, numbered upstream to downstream. Use the buttons to switch between the state and the river.
- 1San Francisco
- river and reservoirs
- gauge
About the Blue River
This report follows 51 miles (82 km) of the Blue River, all within the San Francisco watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 619 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the San Francisco River. Named tributaries joining it here include the Campbell Blue Creek, Pigeon Creek, Dry Blue Creek, Squaw Creek and Strayhorse Creek. 1 gauge with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1967 to 2026.
From the archive: NHDPlus river network, WBD watersheds, NHD waterbodies, TIGER urban areas and the report's gauges.
From the headwaters down
Each watershed segment in order, with last week's flow rated against the same week in 1991–2020.
Segment 1: San Francisco
No data last week.
Median conductance 484 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 157% of normal.
Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Completed | Main purpose | Storage, acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater LakeBluewater Dam | water storage |
From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.
Water users
Surface water withdrawn, 2020
In the counties this river crosses (Catron): 19,410 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.
| Use | Share (bar) | Share | Acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigated agriculture | 87% | 16,813 | |
| Commercial | 12% | 2,349 | |
| Livestock | 1% | 248 |
State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.
Sources
Numbered sources for the statements above, as they were read when the page was prepared.