Diego Lopez, Editor
CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Water conditions across Cibola County showed continued winter decline during the past week, with Bluewater Lake dropping further and the Rio San Jose reaching one of its lowest measured levels of the season.
Snowpack in the Zuni Mountains has improved modestly but remains well below historical norms.
Bluewater Lake
According to U.S. Geological Survey data, Bluewater Lake measured 4,452 acre-feet on the morning of Jan. 20, down from 4,478 acre-feet recorded one week earlier.
The roughly 26-acrefoot decline reflects ongoing winter drawdown and evaporation, with no significant inflow events recorded during the monitoring period. Ice formations within the lake, near the boat dock, are currently responsible for a temporary closure of boating in Bluewater Lake.
While winter typically brings slower losses than summer months, the steady downward trend continues a pattern that has persisted since mid-2024. Rio San Jose
The Rio San Jose gauge at Acoma Pueblo recorded a gage height of 1.85 feet on Jan. 20, matching readings from Jan. 13 and a field measurement taken Jan. 14. This represents a 0.03foot water loss since Dec. 30, according to USGS monitoring data.
Although minor dayto- day fluctuations are normal, sustained readings at this level suggest limited groundwater contribution and minimal surface flow recharge at this time.
Snowpack Update: Zuni/Bluewater River Basin
Snowpack in the Zuni Mountains showed slight improvement but remains far below average. Data from the NRCS SNOTEL site at Rice Park (8,480 feet) shows: Snow Water Equivalent (SWE): 1.1 inches Median for this date: 3.2 inches Percent of median: 34% Snowpack in the Zuni Mountains is a critical upstream indicator for both Bluewater Lake and the Rio San Jose. With snowpack running at roughly one-third of normal, the likelihood of meaningful spring recharge remains uncertain unless conditions improve significantly in February and March.