Cimarron River (Upper Canadian)

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 Cimarron River (Upper Canadian) in New MexicoNew Mexico, with the Cimarron River (Upper Canadian)'s 1 watershed segment shaded and numbered upstream to downstream, the river and its gauges.Beaver CreekCanadian RiverChaco RiverEast Fork Gila RiverGila RiverMimbres RiverPecos RiverRio ChamaRio GrandeRio HondoRio PuercoRio SaladoRio San JoseSalt CreekSan Francisco RiverSan Juan River1. Cimarron (HUC 11080002)Cimarron River (Upper Canadian)AlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmingtonCimarron River (Upper Canadian)Canadian River1. Cimarron (HUC 11080002)Salado CreekSalado CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekPonil CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekRayado CreekRayado CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekRayado CreekCimarroncito CreekCimarroncito CreekPonil CreekPonil CreekCimarron River (Upper Canadian)Unnamed reservoirCIMARRON RIVER AT UTE PARK, NM (Cimarron)CIMARRON RIVER BELOW EAGLE NEST DAM, NM (Cimarron)CIMARRON RIVER NEAR CIMARRON, NM (Cimarron)CIMARRON RIVER AT SPRINGER, NM (Cimarron)1
  • 1Cimarron
  • river and reservoirs
  • gauge

About the Cimarron River (Upper Canadian)

This report follows 60 miles (97 km) of the Cimarron River (Upper Canadian), all within the Cimarron watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 1,049 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Canadian River. Named tributaries joining it here include the Ponil Creek, Rayado Creek, Salado Creek and Cimarroncito Creek. 4 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1907 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. Cimarron

    49 cfs last week normal.

    Median conductance 349 µS/cm in the 2010s. Rain over the last 3 months: 161% of normal.

Reservoirs

ReservoirCompletedMain purposeStorage, acre-ft
Eagle Nest LakeEagle Nest Dam1918water storage98,400

From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.

Water users

Surface water withdrawn, 2020

In the counties this river crosses (Colfax): 66,039 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.

UseShareAcre-ft
Irrigated agriculture82%53,926
Reservoir evaporation16%10,488
Public water supply2%1,287
Livestock1%336
Commercial0%2

State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.

Public water systems beside the river

French MDWCA/Swa, Springer Tract, Village of Eagle Nest, Cimarron Water System, Springer Water System

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.