Santa Cruz 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.
- 1Upper Rio Grande
- river and reservoirs
- gauge
About the Santa Cruz River
This report follows 12 miles (19 km) of the Santa Cruz River, all within the Upper Rio Grande watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 182 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Rio Grande. Named tributaries joining it here include the Rio Medio and Rio Frijoles. Largest urban areas near it: Española. 2 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1932 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: Upper Rio Grande
40 cfs last week much above normal.
Towns: Española.
Median conductance 336 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 174% of normal.
Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Completed | Main purpose | Storage, acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Dam | 1929 | Irrigation | 5,948 |
From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.
Water users
Surface water withdrawn, 2020
In the counties this river crosses (Rio Arriba, Santa Fe): 157,789 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.
| Use | Share (bar) | Share | Acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigated agriculture | 76% | 120,581 | |
| Reservoir evaporation | 16% | 25,890 | |
| Public water supply | 5% | 7,383 | |
| Commercial | 2% | 3,732 | |
| Livestock | 0% | 199 |
State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.
Public water systems beside the river
Cuatro Villas MDWA Santa Fe, Espanola Water System, Greater Chimayo MDWCA Rio Arriba, Greater Chimayo MDWCA, Espanola Water System, Valley Estates Water & Sewer 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.