This week, Rin and John talk about flows on the Rio Grande, planning for a new federal river management project south of Socorro, groundwater contamination questions, and the future of federal clean water regulation.

Rio Grande

With the irrigation season over and the Rio Grande’s riparian vegetation shutting down for the winter, river flows are up through Albuquerque. But the biggest reason for the high flows is the annual Rio Grande Compact accounting exercise, as water stored in Abiquiu reservoir for the six Middle Rio Grande Pueblos, but not needed, is moved down to Elephant Butte Reservoir.

To track the flows, the USGS measurement gage at Central Avenue is Rin and John’s go-to information source: Rio Grande at Albuquerque, NM - USGS-08330000

And to get the best report on current river conditions, we recommend Anne Marken’s monthly presentations to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors. The audio recordings, including Anne’s slides, are here, and once the meeting minutes are posted, you’ll get a great written summary.

Lower San Acacia Reach

Reclamations draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower San Acacia Reach Improvements project is here. There will be two public meetings on the draft:

• January 7, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m. MT at the Erna Fergusson Public Library, 3700 San Mateo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87110.
• January 8, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m. MT at the Socorro Public Library, 401 Park St, Socorro, NM, 87801.

Groundwater

• SourceNM reporting on Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon water contamination
• Geologist Kate Zeigler’s report on water contamination
• Water Protection Advisory Board reports on Kirtland fuel spill

Waters of the United States (WOTUS!)

• WOTUS comment link
• WOTUS definition update