Puerco 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 Puerco River in New MexicoNew Mexico, with the Puerco River's 1 watershed segment shaded and numbered upstream to downstream, the river and its gauges, and towns near it (Gallup).Beaver CreekCanadian RiverChaco RiverEast Fork Gila RiverGila RiverMimbres RiverPecos RiverRio ChamaRio GrandeRio HondoRio PuercoRio SaladoRio San JoseSalt CreekSan Francisco RiverSan Juan River1. Upper Puerco (HUC 15020006)Puerco RiverAlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmingtonPuerco RiverChaco River1. Upper Puerco (HUC 15020006)South Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverBread Springs WashSalt Water WashSalt Water WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashSalt Water WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashBread Springs WashSalt Water WashSouth Fork Puerco RiverSouth Fork Puerco RiverBread Springs WashSouth Fork Puerco RiverPuerco RiverGallupPUERCO RIVER NR CHURCH ROCK, NM (Upper Puerco)PUERCO RIVER AT GALLUP, NM (Upper Puerco)PUERCO RIVER, NEAR LUPTON, AZ (Upper Puerco)PUERCO RIVER NR MANUELITO, NM (Upper Puerco)1
  • 1Upper Puerco
  • river and reservoirs
  • gauge

About the Puerco River

This report follows 92 miles (149 km) of the Puerco River, all within the Upper Puerco watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 1,234 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Puerco River. Named tributaries joining it here include the South Fork Puerco River, Bread Springs Wash and Salt Water Wash. Largest urban areas near it: Gallup. 4 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1940 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. Upper Puerco

    No data last week.

    Towns: Gallup.

    Median conductance 1,788 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 170% 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 (McKinley): 113 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.

UseShareAcre-ft
Irrigated agriculture85%96
Livestock15%16

State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.

Public water systems beside the river

Gallup Water System, Coal Basin Domestic Water Users Association, D & S Trailer Ranch, Sagebrush Water Co-Op, Block A Well Co-Op, White Cliffs MDWUA

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.