Chaco 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.

Map of the Chaco River in New MexicoNew Mexico, with the Chaco River's 2 watershed segments shaded and numbered upstream to downstream, the river and its gauges, and towns near it (Kirtland, Shiprock).Beaver CreekCanadian RiverEast Fork Gila RiverGila RiverMimbres RiverPecos RiverRio ChamaRio GrandeRio HondoRio PuercoRio SaladoRio San JoseSalt CreekSan Francisco RiverSan Juan River1. Chaco (HUC 14080106)2. Middle San Juan (HUC 14080105)Chaco RiverAlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmingtonChaco RiverSan Juan River1. Chaco (HUC 14080106)2. Middle San Juan (HUC 14080105)Coyote WashCoyote WashIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashIndian CreekIndian CreekKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashKim-me-ni-oli WashEscavada WashEscavada WashChaco WashChaco WashChaco WashEscavada WashEscavada WashEscavada WashEscavada WashChaco WashChaco WashChaco WashChaco WashChaco WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashCoyote WashIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekIndian CreekCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashTeec-ni-di-tso WashTeec-ni-di-tso WashTeec-ni-di-tso WashTeec-ni-di-tso WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashCaptain Tom WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashSanostee WashChaco RiverKirtlandShiprockCHACO RIVER NR SHIPROCK, NM (Middle San Juan)CHACO RIVER NEAR WATERFLOW , NM (Chaco)CHACO RIVER NR BURNHAM, NM (Chaco)12
  • 1Chaco
  • 2Middle San Juan
  • river and reservoirs
  • gauge

About the Chaco River

This report follows 111 miles (179 km) of the Chaco River across 2 watershed segments, from Chaco downstream to Middle San Juan. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 4,427 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the San Juan River. Named tributaries joining it here include the Teec-ni-di-tso Wash, Coyote Wash, Chaco Wash, Kim-me-ni-oli Wash and Indian Creek. Largest urban areas near it: Kirtland and Shiprock. 3 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1975 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.

  1. Chaco

    No data last week.

    Median conductance 1,250 µS/cm in the 1980s. Rain over the last 3 months: 203% of normal.

  2. Middle San Juan

    No data last week.

    Towns: Shiprock.

    Median conductance 779 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 239% of normal.

Reservoirs

No reservoir with 500 acre-feet or more of storage on this river in the National Inventory of Dams.

Water users

Surface water withdrawn, 2020

In the counties this river crosses (San Juan): 412,312 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.

UseShareAcre-ft
Irrigated agriculture80%330,370
Power8%32,474
Reservoir evaporation7%27,174
Public water supply5%21,357
Commercial0%913

State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.

Public water systems beside the river

La Vida Mission Community Water Supply

State Engineer's public water systems layer (service areas within 2 km).

Sources

Numbered sources for the statements above, as they were read when the page was prepared.