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 – May 14, 2024
Construction on hold at El Vado Dam

ALBUQUERQUE, NM. – During the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District regular board meeting this week, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that construction to upgrade El Vado Dam is halted and that temporary alternative storage options are being developed. Read More
News Release – April 30, 2024
Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release 2024 Annual Operating Plans for the Rio Grande and Pecos River amid worsening drought conditions

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Bureau of Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released their Annual Operating Plan for the Rio Grande and Pecos River recently. The snowpack in the region's northern mountains is near to above average. Read More
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