Cibola Water Monitoring Report

  • A 7-day precipitation map from Drought.gov shows light rainfall across much of Cibola County through September 13, 2025. Most areas received less than half an inch of moisture, with only isolated pockets approaching 1–2 inches. The limited totals highlight the region’s continued dryness and the modest relief offered by scattered late-summer storms. Courtesy Photo
    A 7-day precipitation map from Drought.gov shows light rainfall across much of Cibola County through September 13, 2025. Most areas received less than half an inch of moisture, with only isolated pockets approaching 1–2 inches. The limited totals highlight the region’s continued dryness and the modest relief offered by scattered late-summer storms. Courtesy Photo
  • Evening storm clouds glow over the Zuni Mountains near Bluewater, New Mexico, on September 12, 2025. Scattered showers like this one brought brief relief to parts of Cibola County, underscoring the real-world impact behind ongoing water monitoring and drought reports. Photo by Kristine Simonson
    Evening storm clouds glow over the Zuni Mountains near Bluewater, New Mexico, on September 12, 2025. Scattered showers like this one brought brief relief to parts of Cibola County, underscoring the real-world impact behind ongoing water monitoring and drought reports. Photo by Kristine Simonson

    Bluewater and Rio San Jose Data as of September 15, 2025 

    CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – This report seeks to track the flow of water in Cibola County. Bluewater Lake and the Rio San Jose both have United States Geological Survey monitoring stations where this data is pulled from.

    Bluewater Lake continues to show gradual decline as summer winds down, with a recorded volume of 4,981 acre-feet as of 11:15 a.m. on September 15. That marks a loss of nearly 30 acre-feet since September 8 and more than 600 acre-feet since mid-August. The lake’s elevation stands at 7,370.49 feet with a surface area of 520 acres. Despite the steady drop, boating conditions remain listed as “excellent” by New Mexico State Parks.

    The Rio San Jose held nearly steady over the past week, measuring 1.94 feet on the morning of September 15. Flows remain modest, reflecting the county’s persistent drought and limited latesummer rainfall.

    Both reservoir and river trends highlight the importance of conservation and careful monitoring as Cibola heads into the fall season.