Galisteo Creek
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.
- 1Rio Grande-Santa Fe
- river and reservoirs
- gauge
About the Galisteo Creek
This report follows 55 miles (89 km) of the Galisteo Creek, all within the Rio Grande-Santa Fe watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 670 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Rio Grande. Named tributaries joining it here include the San Marcos Arroyo, Arroyo Jara and Cunningham Creek. Largest urban areas near it: Santa Fe. 3 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1941 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: Rio Grande-Santa Fe
45 cfs last week much above normal, 275 dry days this year.
Median conductance 738 µS/cm in the 2010s. Rain over the last 3 months: 182% of normal.
Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Completed | Main purpose | Storage, acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galisteo ReservoirGalisteo Dam | 1970 | flood control (normally dry) | 152,600 |
From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.
Water users
Surface water withdrawn, 2020
In the counties this river crosses (Sandoval, Santa Fe): 69,520 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.
| Use | Share (bar) | Share | Acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigated agriculture | 80% | 55,651 | |
| Public water supply | 10% | 7,254 | |
| Reservoir evaporation | 8% | 5,557 | |
| Commercial | 1% | 977 | |
| Livestock | 0% | 81 |
State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.
Irrigation districts and acequias
- Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (42,131 acres mapped)
State Engineer's irrigation districts and acequia layers.
Public water systems beside the river
Eldorado Area Water And Sanitation District, Lamy Mutual Domestic Water Association, Ranchitos De Galisteo Water Users Association, Canoncito at Apache Canyon, Galisteo MDWCA, El Vadito De Los Cerrillos Water Association
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.