Albuquerque Area Office

The Albuquerque Area Office is one of the largest in Reclamation reaching from the Alamosa area of southern Colorado through most of New Mexico and into west Texas. Staff here manage delivery of water on the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Pecos, and Canadian rivers from the main office in Albuquerque and six field offices in Alamosa, Colorado; Alamogordo, Chama, Elephant Butte, and Socorro, New Mexico; and El Paso, Texas. This office is also responsible for overseeing the management of nine major dams with a combined reservoir storage capacity of more than 3.5 million acre-feet that supply water for more than 439,000 acres of irrigated land and several municipal drinking water projects. They also oversee hydropower production at Elephant Butte Dam, and research and testing at the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination and Research Facility.

News and Highlights

News Release – March 6, 2024
Reclamation prepares for another below average runoff on the Rio Grande

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Water managers are expecting a low spring runoff this year on the Rio Grande after issuing the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) February streamflow forecast for El Vado Reservoir inflow for March to July, which predicts inflow at only 46% of median. Read More
News Release – February 14, 2024
Reclamation adds geocaching to available recreation opportunities at Elephant Butte Historic District
Introducing Agents of Discovery: Your ultimate free family-friendly guide to the Elephant Butte Historic District

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Bureau of Reclamation is teaming up with Agents of Discovery® a free, family-friendly and educational mobile game now available for the Elephant Butte Historic District. The Agents of Discovery app will enhance the visitor experience by exploring the Historic District via a virtually guided tour using geocache technology. Read More
News Release – September 21, 2023
Groundbreaking event held for road improvement project near Elephant Butte

ALBUQUERQUE, NM. – The Bureau of Reclamation, New Mexico State Parks Division and Federal Highways Administration-Central Federal Lands Division held a groundbreaking event Tuesday, Sept. 19, for the Road Rehabilitation Project of Lakeshore Drive at Elephant Butte Reservoir. Read More
News Release – July 25, 2023
Water Swap authorized to help irrigators along the Rio Grande
Reclamation signs agreement with Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to make water in Abiquiu Reservoir immediately available for MRGCD use

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--Water managers signed an agreement last week to transfer up to 30,900 acre-feet of water stored in Abiquiu Reservoir for Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and Reclamation, making it available for immediate use. This will be exchanged with a corresponding amount of MRGCD and Reclamation-leased water currently held in Heron Reservoir further north. Read More
News Release – July 14, 2023
Reduced El Vado water releases expected
Weekend summer rafting flows on the Rio Chama on hold

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Previously planned support of weekend summer rafting flows from El Vado Reservoir is on hold as the low reservoir levels required for construction ongoing at El Vado Dam have contributed to increased debris in the dam's outlet works, impacting the amount of water that can be safely released from the facility. Read More
News Release – June 13, 2023
Reduced El Vado water releases expected

Previously planned support of weekend summer rafting flows from El Vado Reservoir is on hold as the low reservoir levels required for construction ongoing at El Vado Dam have contributed to increased debris in the dam’s outlet works, impacting the amount of water that can be safely released from the facility. Read More
News Release – June 13, 2023
Public comment period open for Middle Rio Grande Lower San Acacia Reach Improvements Project Environmental Impact Statement

The Bureau of Reclamation will host three public meetings and invites public and agency comments to identify issues or alternatives to be considered in the environmental impact statement for the Middle Rio Grande Lower San Acacia Reach Improvements Project. The 30-day public comment period concludes Friday, June 30. Read More
News Release – April 20, 2023
Reclamation prepares for above-average runoff on the Rio Grande, Rio Chama and Pecos River

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Strategic coordination and operations will be key on the Rio Grande as water managers prepare for above-average spring runoff amid the multi-decade drought. Read More