CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – With the end of 2025 in sight, Cibola County’s water picture remains largely unchanged.
New USGS data shows Bluewater Lake continuing to recede and the Rio San Jose slipping slightly lower — a quiet but telling snapshot of a year marked by drought, limited recharge, and only brief seasonal relief.
Bluewater Lake continued its slow winter drawdown during the week of December 16–22, holding 4,530 acre-feet of water as of 11:15 a.m. on December 22, according to provisional data from the U.S. Geological Survey. That marks another modest decline from the previous week, extending the steady downward trend the reservoir has followed since late summer. While the rate of loss has slowed compared to peak summer months, there has been no measurable recovery in lake volume.
The Rio San Jose measured 1.90 feet on the afternoon of December 22, dipping slightly from the 1.91-foot level it had maintained for much of the fall. Though the change is minor, it reflects continued low-flow conditions across the watershed as winter begins without significant snowpack or sustained precipitation.
Together, the week’s readings show both systems remaining under stress. Bluewater Lake’s gradual decline and the Rio San Jose’s near-flat profile continue to illustrate the lingering effects of drought across Cibola County, where 100 percent of the county remains classified in drought conditions.
As the year comes to a close, both monitoring sites remain key indicators to watch for any signs of winter recharge heading into 2026 — though for now, the data suggests conditions remain largely unchanged.