Sapello 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.
- 1Mora
- river and reservoirs
- gauge
About the Sapello River
This report follows 45 miles (72 km) of the Sapello River, all within the Mora watershed segment. At the lower end of the report the river drains about 293 square miles. Downstream of the mapped reach it flows into the Mora River. Named tributaries joining it here include the Manuelitas Creek and Arroyo Jara. Reservoirs on this reach: Lake Isabel. 2 gauges with at least 26 weeks of daily flow cover 1917 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: Mora
No data last week.
Median conductance 300 µS/cm in the 2020s. Rain over the last 3 months: 158% of normal.
Reservoirs
| Reservoir | Completed | Main purpose | Storage, acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Isabel Dam | 1919 | Irrigation | 6,500 |
From the archive: National Inventory of Dams (USACE) and the reservoir registry.
Water users
Surface water withdrawn, 2020
In the counties this river crosses (Mora, San Miguel): 101,497 acre-feet. County totals include other streams.
| Use | Share (bar) | Share | Acre-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigated agriculture | 66% | 66,931 | |
| Reservoir evaporation | 31% | 31,162 | |
| Public water supply | 2% | 2,142 | |
| Commercial | 1% | 1,107 | |
| Livestock | 0% | 155 |
State Engineer, New Mexico Water Use by Categories 2020.
Public water systems beside the river
Pendaries MDWCA, Watrous MDWCA
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.