Rio Hondo (Upper Pecos)
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 Hondo
- river and reservoirs
- gauge
About the Rio Hondo (Upper Pecos)
This report follows 79 miles (127 km) of the Rio Hondo (Upper Pecos), all within the Rio Hondo watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 1,626 square miles. Named tributaries joining it here include the Hondo, Berrendo Creek, Rio Bonito, Rio Ruidoso and Rocky Arroyo. Reservoirs on this reach: Two Rivers Reservoir. Largest urban areas near it: Roswell. 6 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1939 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 Hondo
44 cfs last week much above normal, 248 dry days this year.
Towns: Roswell.
Median conductance 4,234 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 169% of normal.
Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Completed | Main purpose | Storage, acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Rivers Reservoir (Diamond A Dam)Diamond A Dam, Two Rivers project | flood control (normally dry) | ||
| Two Rivers Diamond A Dam | 1963 | Flood Risk Reduction | 264,400 |
From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.
Water users
- Ruidoso's three mountain lakes — Grindstone closest to downtown, Alto to the north and Bonito in the Sierra Blanca mountains to the northwest — are regularly stocked with rainbow trout, with trails in the area running alongside the Rio Ruidoso.1
- The Village of Ruidoso warns that burn scars from the South Fork and Salt fires have sharply increased flood risk along canyons, arroyos and low-water crossings near the Rio Ruidoso, where flash floods can now develop within minutes during monsoon season.2
Surface water withdrawn, 2020
In the counties this river crosses (Chaves, Lincoln): 44,684 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.
| Use | Share (bar) | Share | Acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigated agriculture | 92% | 41,185 | |
| Commercial | 5% | 2,219 | |
| Public water supply | 2% | 887 | |
| Livestock | 1% | 393 |
State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.
Irrigation districts and acequias
- Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District (702,580 acres mapped)
State Engineer's irrigation districts and acequia layers.
Public water systems beside the river
Roswell Municipal Water System, Berrendo Co-Operative Water Users 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.
- Ruidoso Lakes, Village of Ruidoso (Discover Ruidoso tourism site) (read 2026-09-28)
- Monsoon Season Awareness, Village of Ruidoso (read 2026-09-28)