Rio Lucero

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 Rio Lucero in New MexicoNew Mexico, with the Rio Lucero'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. Upper Rio Grande (HUC 13020101)Rio LuceroAlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmingtonRio Lucero1. Upper Rio Grande (HUC 13020101)Rio LuceroRIO LUCERO NEAR ARROYO SECO, NM (Upper Rio Grande)1
  • 1Upper Rio Grande
  • river and reservoirs
  • gauge

About the Rio Lucero

This report follows 16 miles (27 km) of the Rio Lucero, all within the Upper Rio Grande watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 36 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Rio Pueblo de Taos. 1 gauge with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1913 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 Rio Grande

    25 cfs last week much above normal.

    Towns: Taos.

    Acequias: Acequia De Juan Manuel, Acequia Madre Del Prado, Acequia Madre Del Pueblo.

    Median conductance 236 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 174% of normal.

Culture

Acequias

  • Acequia De Juan Manuel
  • Acequia Madre Del Prado
  • Acequia Madre Del Pueblo
  • Acequia Madre del Rio Lucero y del Arroyo Seco (Taos County)1

From the State Engineer's acequia map, which covers mainly northern New Mexico, and cited records of acequia governance. Within 1.5 km of the river.

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Surface water withdrawn, 2020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 (Taos): 75,691 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.

UseShareAcre-ft
Irrigated agriculture86%65,380
Commercial13%9,772
Reservoir evaporation1%442
Public water supply0%62
Livestock0%35

State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.

Irrigation districts and acequias

State Engineer's irrigation districts and acequia layers.

Public water systems beside the river

Taos Municipal Water System, El Prado Water & Sanitation District, Arroyo Seco MDWCA, Upper Ranchitos MDWCA, El Salto MDWCA And SA, La Lomita Trailer Park

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.

  1. Acequia Madre del Rio Lucero y del Arroyo Seco - Bylaws, Acequia Madre del Rio Lucero y del Arroyo Seco (read 2026-09-28)