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Rio Chama

The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Rio Grande, originating in the southern San Juan Mountains of south-central Colorado and flowing approximately 130 miles southward through northern New Mexico before joining the Rio Grande near Española.^[1]^[2] It serves as the largest tributary in the upper Rio Grande basin, providing essential water flows historically utilized by ancient Pueblo peoples, traditional acequia systems, and contemporary users. The river carves a dramatic canyon of multi-colored sandstone, siltstone, and gypsum layers, with walls rising up to 1,500 feet in places, creating a scenic corridor managed partly as a federally designated Wild and Scenic River under the oversight of the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.^[3]^[4] This rugged terrain supports diverse riparian and aquatic ecosystems, though altered by infrastructure including El Vado and Abiquiu Dams, which regulate flows for irrigation, hydropower, and flood control while enabling experimental releases to mimic natural hydrographs for ecological benefits.^[5]^[6] Renowned for whitewater rafting and boating on managed stretches like the 22-mile segment from El Vado Ranch to Chavez Canyon, the Rio Chama attracts recreationists seeking solitude amid towering cliffs and side canyons, with permit systems ensuring resource protection.^[7] Its watershed, encompassing perennial and ephemeral tributaries, underscores a social-ecological history of human adaptation to arid conditions, from indigenous agriculture to modern water rights leases aimed at sustaining biodiversity and cultural landscapes.^[8]^[9]

Geography

Course and watershed

The Rio Chama originates in the San Juan Mountains of south-central Colorado at the confluence of its East Fork and West Fork streams.^[2] The river flows generally southward, crossing into northern New Mexico just north of the town of Chama.^[10] It continues through rural valleys past Tierra Amarilla, where it is impounded by El Vado Reservoir, before entering Heron Reservoir as part of the San Juan-Chama Project water diversion system.^[11] Downstream, the river reaches Abiquiu Reservoir, after which it meanders southeast through a sandstone canyon and joins the Rio Grande approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Española in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.^[12] The main stem of the Rio Chama measures approximately 130 miles (210 km) in length.^[2] Its watershed encompasses 8,176 square kilometers (3,158 square miles) across southern Colorado and north-central New Mexico, including parts of Archuleta and Conejos counties in Colorado, and Rio Arriba, Taos, and Sandoval counties in New Mexico.^[13]^[14] Major tributaries contributing to the watershed include Rio Chamita, Canjilon Creek, Clear Creek, Placer Creek, and Rio Ojo Caliente, which drain forested uplands, mesas, and valleys into the main channel.^[15] The basin's headwaters lie in glaciated alpine terrain at the Continental Divide, transitioning to semi-arid plateaus and canyons downstream.^[16]

Geological features and canyon formation

The Rio Chama incises a steep canyon through Mesozoic sedimentary rocks in the southeastern Colorado Plateau, with walls rising up to 1,500 feet above the riverbed and exposing layered sandstones, siltstones, and shales that produce a multicolored appearance.^[17] The dominant exposed units include the Jurassic Entrada Sandstone, forming resistant, cross-bedded cliffs in three color zones (white, red, and gray), overlain locally by the thin Todilto Formation limestone and the thicker Morrison Formation, which consists of interbedded fluvial mudstones and sandstones up to 435 feet thick.^[18] In the lower canyon reaches, Cretaceous strata such as the Dakota Sandstone (180–390 feet thick, with sandstone-shale sequences) and the Mancos Shale (over 1,700 feet of marine shale with limestone concretions) form broader slopes and benches.^[19] Triassic Chinle Formation red beds (~500 feet of arkosic siltstone and sandstone) underlie the Jurassic section in places, while in narrow "boxes" like Cañones Box, the river cuts into resistant Precambrian quartzite of the Kiawa Mountain Formation, exceeding 5,000 feet in thickness.^[18] Structural features include Laramide orogeny-induced folds, such as the Archuleta anticlinorium and local anticlines like Willow Creek, with northwest-trending high-angle normal faults showing displacements under 200 feet in the canyon vicinity.^[19] These deformations, occurring from Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary time, gently warp the sedimentary layers without major disruption to the overall plateau stratigraphy. Canyon formation resulted from fluvial downcutting by the Rio Chama, driven by regional uplift during the Laramide orogeny, which elevated the Colorado Plateau margin and steepened stream gradients, enhancing erosive capacity through resistant caprocks and softer underlying units.^[19] Post-Laramide fault reactivation and eastward tilting of adjacent Tusas Mountains further promoted headward erosion and entrenchment, with the river integrating into the Rio Grande system to lower base levels and sustain incision up to 900 feet of relief in the wilderness area.^[18] Quaternary terrace deposits, including gravels 50–350 feet above the modern channel correlated to glacial epochs, indicate episodic incision modulated by pluvial climate enhancements and ongoing tectonic adjustments, though rates remain constrained by limited direct dating in the Chama reach.^[18]

Hydrology

River flow regime and seasonal variations

The Rio Chama's natural flow regime exhibits pronounced seasonal variations influenced by the semi-arid climate of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, where precipitation is bimodal: winter-spring snow accumulation in the San Juan Mountains and summer monsoon rains.^[20] The annual hydrograph typically features low baseflows from November to February, sustained by groundwater discharge, followed by rising flows from March to June due to snowmelt runoff, and episodic peaks from July to October driven by convective thunderstorms.^[20] Peak snowmelt discharges historically occurred in April to June, with flood events capable of exceeding 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), while monsoon flows provide shorter, intense pulses often laden with sediment.^[5] Regulation by upstream reservoirs, including El Vado Dam (completed 1955) and Abiquiu Dam (completed 1963), has substantially modified this regime, attenuating peak flows for flood control, irrigation, and power generation while augmenting low flows through controlled releases and imports from the San Juan-Chama Project.^[21] Mean annual discharge, measured at USGS gage 08290000 near the confluence with the Rio Grande, averages approximately 571 cfs over the period 1971–2009, though interannual variability is high, with extremes ranging from drought lows near 1 cfs to high-runoff years exceeding historical medians by factors of two or more.^[13] Baseflow conditions now benefit from stabilized releases, reducing the natural intermittency observed in unregulated tributaries, but summer monsoon contributions remain variable and less predictable due to localized storm patterns.^[22] These alterations prioritize water supply reliability over natural hydrograph fidelity, resulting in diminished geomorphic processes like sediment transport during high flows, though experimental peak releases have been implemented to mimic historical patterns for ecological benefits.^[23] Recent hydrologic records indicate that snowpack deficits, as seen in water year 2025 with basin snow water equivalent at 40% of median by late March, can suppress spring peaks, exacerbating reliance on reservoir storage amid ongoing climate variability.^[24]

Dams, reservoirs, and water infrastructure

The Rio Chama's water infrastructure centers on three primary reservoirs—Heron, El Vado, and Abiquiu—that store native runoff and imported water from the San Juan-Chama Project for flood control, irrigation, municipal supply, and environmental management.^[11] This federal project, authorized in 1962, diverts up to 110,000 acre-feet annually from the San Juan River Basin in Colorado through a series of tunnels and canals into the Chama system, augmenting local flows for downstream Rio Grande users.^[25] Operations coordinate releases to balance human needs with ecological requirements, including timed outflows for recreation and experimental pulses to restore sediment transport and habitat.^[5] Heron Reservoir, the uppermost facility, is impounded by an earthfill dam completed in 1971 on Willow Creek just before its junction with the Rio Chama.^[26] Standing 276 feet high and spanning 1,221 feet, the dam primarily stores San Juan-Chama diversions, with water released into the Chama for subsequent downstream regulation.^[26] The reservoir's capacity supports transbasin transfers while minimizing impacts on the native Chama watershed yield of approximately 420,000 acre-feet per year.^[11] El Vado Dam, constructed from 1934 to 1935 by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and rehabilitated by the Bureau of Reclamation, lies about 10 miles downstream and regulates flows through El Vado Reservoir.^[27] Native Chama inflows up to 100 cubic feet per second are bypassed through the dam to preserve downstream riparian demands, while stored San Juan-Chama water is held for irrigation and power generation.^[28] Releases from El Vado, often scheduled for weekend recreation, have included high-volume experimental flows—such as 6,000 cubic feet per second in 2009—to simulate pre-dam flood pulses and enhance channel maintenance.^[5] Abiquiu Dam, a 325-foot-high structure finished in 1963 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, forms Abiquiu Reservoir farther downstream to control floods, trap sediment, and stabilize the Wild and Scenic Rio Chama segment.^[29] The rolled earthfill dam integrates with project operations by storing excess San Juan-Chama allocations and modulating outflows to prevent erosion while supporting acequia diversions and urban supplies in northern New Mexico.^[30] Recent efforts address sedimentation challenges, including coordinated management of a 2024 plug to restore channel capacity without compromising storage functions.^[31]

Ecology

Aquatic and riparian ecosystems

The aquatic ecosystems of the Rio Chama support communities of cold-water fish species, including brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis), which dominate the fishery below dams like El Vado.^[32]^[33] Native species such as the Rio Grande shiner (Notropis jemezanus) occur historically but are less prevalent due to flow alterations.^[34] Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, including taxa responsive to temperature and substrate conditions, form the base of the food web and are influenced by hypolimnetic releases from upstream reservoirs, which maintain chronically low temperatures below 10°C in reaches like the Wild and Scenic segment.^[35]^[36]^[37] Water quality in these areas is impaired by stable, cold outflows that limit algal production and invertebrate diversity, though overall parameters meet standards for designated uses except where sedimentation or nutrient inputs from tributaries degrade habitats.^[15]^[37] Riparian zones along the Rio Chama feature dense, structurally diverse vegetation dominated by Fremont cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni), thinleaf alder (Alnus incana var. tenuifolia), and willow (Salix spp.), which stabilize banks and provide shade critical for maintaining cool water temperatures.^[38]^[39]^[40] These plant associations thrive in active floodplains but have declined in extent due to reduced peak flows from dams, leading to encroachment by non-native species and simplified habitat structure in regulated reaches between El Vado and Abiquiu reservoirs.^[41]^[42] The riparian corridor sustains diverse wildlife, serving as a migration flyway for waterfowl such as ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, great blue herons, and belted kingfishers, which rely on emergent vegetation and adjacent wetlands for foraging and nesting.^[43] Mammals including elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) frequent the zone for browsing and water access, while riparian woodlands support breeding populations of neotropical songbirds.^[6]^[44] Flow optimization efforts, such as experimental pulses, aim to enhance habitat connectivity and vegetation recruitment by mimicking natural hydrographs, addressing biodiversity losses from flow stabilization.^[42]^[21]

Flora, fauna, and biodiversity

The riparian ecosystems of the Rio Chama feature dominant woody vegetation including Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and Goodding's willow (Salix gooddingii), alongside coyote willow (Salix exigua), which stabilize streambanks, provide thermal cover for aquatic organisms, and support invertebrate communities through leaf litter inputs.^[40]^[45] Upland habitats transition to piñon-juniper woodlands on exposed slopes and mixed conifer stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) on cooler, north-facing aspects, contributing to elevational gradients in plant diversity from 5,800 to 7,800 feet.^[46] A federal candidate plant, bigelovii sand-verbena (Abronia bigelovii), persists in canyon gravel bars, marking the northern limit of its range and highlighting localized endemism.^[39] Aquatic biodiversity centers on the river's cold-water fishery, where introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) predominate below El Vado Dam, comprising over 90% of biomass in surveyed reaches, while rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) support put-and-take angling in upstream segments.^[1] Native species persist at lower abundances, including Rio Grande chub (Rhinichthys dowii), longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), with benthic macroinvertebrates such as mayflies and caddisflies forming the primary trophic base vulnerable to flow alterations.^[1]^[37] Habitat enhancement projects, including revegetation with wetland obligates and riparian shrubs, aim to bolster invertebrate and fish diversity in degraded reaches.^[47] Terrestrial wildlife includes large mammals such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus canadensis), American black bear (Ursus americanus), and coyote (Canis latrans), which rely on riparian corridors for water, forage, and cover amid canyon and forest habitats.^[48] Avifauna exhibits high richness, with the river functioning as a migration corridor for neo-tropical species; raptors like bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) utilize cliffs and winter roosts, while great blue heron (Ardea herodias), mergansers, Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and swallows nest along banks or in riparian trees.^[1]^[39] Overall biodiversity reflects habitat heterogeneity across wild, scenic, and recreational river segments, with riparian zones serving as connectivity hubs amid wildfire-prone uplands; however, non-native trout dominance and flow regulation from dams like El Vado constrain native fish recovery, prompting targeted restoration to protect federal candidates and former threatened species like the bald eagle.^[1]^[39]^[13]

History

Pre-colonial indigenous habitation

The Rio Chama valley in northern New Mexico exhibits archaeological evidence of human occupation dating back at least 3,000 years, primarily by mobile hunter-gatherer groups during the Archaic period, who utilized the region's chert and obsidian deposits for tool-making, hunted game, and gathered wild plants without establishing permanent structures.^[8]^[49] Lithic artifact scatters, including obsidian spear points, indicate sporadic seasonal use of the canyon and watershed for resource extraction rather than sustained habitation prior to the 13th century CE.^[50] Significant population influx and settlement occurred after approximately 1250 CE, following the depopulation of northern San Juan Basin sites like Mesa Verde around 1280 CE due to prolonged drought and social factors, prompting ancestral Puebloan migrants—proto-Tewa peoples—to establish villages in the relatively unoccupied Rio Chama drainage.^[8] These groups constructed multi-story adobe pueblos, some among the largest in the prehistoric Southwest, incorporating agricultural features such as rock mulch grid gardens for dry farming maize, beans, and squash along the river's floodplain.^[49]^[50] Key sites in the lower Chama Valley, including ancestral Tewa villages like Tsama (Tsámaʔ ówîngeh), supported populations through a combination of riverine farming, hunting, and trade networks, with evidence of collapsed room blocks and field systems persisting into the protohistoric period.^[51]^[52]^[53] Nomadic groups, including early Ute and Apache precursors, traversed the valley for hunting and raiding but left minimal evidence of fixed settlements compared to the sedentary Puebloans, whose habitation dominated the landscape until Spanish contact in the 16th century.^[54] Archaeological surveys confirm sparse pre-1250 CE occupation yielding to denser Classic Pueblo period sites (circa 1325–1600 CE), reflecting adaptive strategies to the semi-arid environment and inter-group interactions.^[8]^[55]

Colonial era exploration and settlement

The Spanish exploration of the Rio Chama occurred as part of broader expeditions into the American Southwest during the late 16th century, culminating in Juan de Oñate's entrada of 1598. On July 11, 1598, Oñate's scouting party reached the Pueblo village of Ohkay Owingeh at the confluence of the Rio Chama and Rio Grande, where the expedition established the first capital of New Mexico, San Gabriel de Yunque (also known as San Gabriel de Yungue Owingeh), on the west bank of the Rio Grande near the Chama's mouth.^[56] This settlement, comprising approximately 200 soldier-colonists, families, Franciscan friars, and livestock, marked the initial European foothold in the region and served as a base for further colonization efforts until its relocation to Santa Fe around 1609–1610.^[56] The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 severely disrupted early Spanish presence along the Rio Chama and upper Rio Grande, as coordinated indigenous uprisings expelled colonists, destroyed missions, and killed hundreds, forcing survivors southward to El Paso del Norte.^[8] Pueblos in the Chama valley, including those near the confluence, participated in the rebellion, leading to the abandonment of nascent settlements and a temporary halt to Spanish control in northern New Mexico.^[55] Diego de Vargas's reconquest campaigns in 1692–1693 reasserted Spanish authority, but the valley remained a volatile frontier exposed to raids by nomadic groups like Utes and Navajos.^[57] Permanent Spanish settlement in the upper Rio Chama valley emerged in the 18th century, driven by the need for defensive outposts amid ongoing indigenous conflicts. In 1754, Governor Tomás Vélez Cachupín granted land to 34 Genízaro families—detribalized indigenous people often of mixed Pueblo, Navajo, or Apache descent—to establish Santo Tomás de Abiquiú, approximately 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe along the river.^[57] This Genízaro pueblo functioned as a buffer against raids by Ute, Navajo, and Comanche groups while serving as a trading hub, with annual fairs facilitating exchanges of horses, slaves, and goods; earlier ranchos and plazas had appeared by the 1730s, including the nearby Santa Rosa de Lima settlement founded in the early 1700s.^[57]^[58] These outposts supported agricultural expansion, including farming and livestock rearing suited to the valley's riparian zones, though persistent violence limited growth until Mexican independence in 1821.^[59]

20th-century development and modifications

In the early 20th century, irrigation demands prompted the construction of El Vado Dam on the Rio Chama, completed in 1935 by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District as a storage facility for agricultural water supplies serving irrigators in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District and downstream areas.^[27] The steel-faced rockfill structure, standing 230 feet high, was rehabilitated in 1955 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation due to financial constraints faced by the Conservancy District during the Great Depression, with additional outlet works added in 1965–1966 to handle imported water volumes.^[60] This dam significantly regulated seasonal flows, reducing peak spring runoffs that historically scoured the river channel and supported riparian habitats.^[61] Mid-century developments focused on flood mitigation with the Abiquiu Dam, authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1948 and constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1956 to 1963 on the lower Rio Chama near Abiquiu.^[62] Primarily designed for flood control to protect downstream Rio Grande communities and infrastructure, the 1,800-foot-long earthfill embankment dam created Abiquiu Reservoir, which also provided incidental storage for irrigation and later municipal uses.^[25] Modifications in 1986 raised the embankment height and upgraded the spillway to enhance capacity amid increasing water demands.^[63] Hydroelectric facilities were installed at the dam in 1990, generating power from controlled releases.^[64] The San Juan-Chama Project, authorized by Congress in 1962, marked a major inter-basin diversion effort, channeling water from the San Juan River basin—tributary to the Colorado River—through tunnels under the Continental Divide into the Rio Chama system for augmentation of Rio Grande supplies.^[25] Heron Dam on Willow Creek, a Chama tributary, was completed in 1971 as the project's primary off-stream storage reservoir, holding up to 400,000 acre-feet for irrigation of approximately 81,600 acres in the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, municipal supplies to cities like Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and other uses.^[25] Existing reservoirs at El Vado and Abiquiu were integrated into operations, with El Vado serving as a regulating pool; this infrastructure collectively transformed the Chama's hydrology by stabilizing flows, enabling year-round diversions, and supporting economic growth in northern New Mexico agriculture and urban areas through the late 20th century.^[65] Farm irrigation expansions, including acequia enhancements and diversion structures, further modified channel morphology and water allocation during this period.^[6]

Human Uses

Agricultural irrigation and acequias

The acequias along the Rio Chama, traditional earthen irrigation canals introduced by Spanish colonists, have supported agricultural production in northern New Mexico for over 400 years, particularly along the lower reaches of the river. These community-managed systems divert water from the river to irrigate floodplain lands used for crops such as alfalfa, grains, and vegetables on small family farms. The Rio Chama Acequia Association, representing 28 individual acequias, holds some of the oldest adjudicated water rights in the state, dating to the colonial era and prioritizing senior users during shortages.^[66]^[67] Irrigated agriculture constitutes approximately 94% of intentional surface water diversions in the Rio Chama watershed, sustaining roughly 53,000 acres of adjacent farmland through these acequias and related infrastructure. Acequia operations follow New Mexico state administration rules, including rate-of-flow protocols that limit diversions to specified maximums (e.g., 1.6 cubic feet per second per 70 acres for many systems) except during priority calls enforcing chronological rights. Parciantes, or shareholders, maintain the canals through annual labor contributions, fostering cooperative governance that allocates water equitably based on historical shares rather than market pricing.^[68]^[69]^[70] These systems originated from Arabic-influenced Spanish engineering, with the earliest documented acequias in the American Southwest constructed in 1598 near the Rio Chama-Rio Grande confluence to enable settlement and farming in arid conditions. Unlike modern pressurized irrigation, acequias promote groundwater recharge via seepage, enhancing long-term soil moisture and riparian health while minimizing evaporation losses compared to open-channel alternatives. The association, formalized in 1993, advocates for preserving these rights amid upstream reservoir releases from dams like Abiquiu, which store imported water to supplement local flows for downstream agriculture.^[71]^[72]

Recreation and tourism

The Rio Chama, designated as a Wild and Scenic River for 24.6 miles under joint management by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, attracts visitors for boating, trout fishing, hiking, and primitive camping amid its canyon landscapes and historical sites.^[3]^[4] Private boating requires permits for the upper canyon stretches, enforced via a lottery system for weekend launches to control visitor numbers and preserve wilderness qualities; motorized craft are prohibited, and groups are capped at 16 people including dogs.^[17]^[73] The river's Class II rapids support multi-day float trips for skilled paddlers and rafters, with commercial outfitters offering guided excursions starting below sites like Christ in the Desert Monastery.^[7]^[74] Trout angling thrives in the cold tailwater sections below El Vado and Abiquiu Dams, where public access extends several miles downstream, supporting populations of brown and rainbow trout in designated quality waters.^[1]^[75] Hikers utilize trails branching into side canyons within the Chama River Canyon Wilderness, providing opportunities to view riparian habitats and archaeological remnants without facilities like restrooms or potable water.^[3]^[76] Adjacent reservoirs such as Heron Lake State Park enhance tourism with boating and camping, though river-focused activities emphasize self-sufficiency due to remote access points.^[43] Recreational use generates economic value through rafting and fishing, as quantified in hydrological management studies assessing visitor impacts from flow variations at El Vado Reservoir.^[21]^[77] Permit systems and seasonal restrictions, including higher flows in spring for boating viability, balance tourism with ecological protection.^[17]

Hydroelectric generation and economic benefits

The Rio Chama hosts two primary hydroelectric facilities—at Abiquiu Dam and El Vado Dam—both featuring turbines owned and operated by the Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities.^[77] Abiquiu Dam's powerhouse, with construction beginning in 1987 and commercial operation starting in April 1990, includes three generating units with a total installed capacity of 16.8 MW following upgrades, including a low-flow turbine added in 2011 to handle releases of 75–235 cubic feet per second during low-water periods.^[62] ^[78] ^[79] El Vado Dam's conventional run-of-river facility provides 8 MW of capacity.^[80] These plants produce dispatchable renewable energy, with Abiquiu Dam alone generating 2.6 GWh between September and December 2024, contributing to the regional grid by offsetting reliance on non-renewable sources.^[81] ^[21] Hydropower output from the Rio Chama dams forms part of the approximately 50 MW total capacity in the Rio Grande basin, supporting energy needs in northern New Mexico.^[82] Economic benefits derive primarily from power sales revenue, which funds public utilities and services in Los Alamos County, alongside job creation in plant operations and maintenance.^[77] System dynamics modeling of Rio Chama dam operations indicates that optimized hydroelectric dispatch yields positive net economic value by balancing energy production against constraints like flow requirements, reducing emissions and enhancing grid reliability.^[83] These facilities enable cost-effective peak flow management, substituting for higher-cost power sources while providing indirect benefits to surrounding rural economies through stable energy supply.^[21]

Controversies and Management Challenges

Water rights disputes and tribal claims

The Rio Chama's water allocation has been contested for decades, primarily due to conflicts between the senior federal reserved water rights of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and the prior appropriation claims of non-Indian users, including acequias and irrigators in the basin. These disputes stem from the river's over-appropriation, exacerbated by upstream dams like El Vado and Abiquiu, which prioritize downstream Rio Grande deliveries under compacts while limiting local availability. The Ohkay Owingeh, located at the Rio Chama's confluence with the Rio Grande, asserts aboriginal and reserved rights dating to pre-colonial times, quantified under the Winters doctrine but complicated by New Mexico's hybrid Pueblo water law framework, which treats some claims as community property rather than individual priorities.^[84] A key flashpoint is a lawsuit initiated over 60 years ago against the Ohkay Owingeh by the Aragon Ditch Association and other local water users, alleging unauthorized diversions from the Rio Chama stream system amid chronic shortages during dry periods. This litigation highlighted tensions between tribal subsurface and surface rights—estimated by the Pueblo at up to 13,000 acre-feet annually for irrigation, domestic use, and instream flows—and junior acequia priorities established in the 19th century under Spanish and Mexican land grants. Without federal adjudication, such conflicts risked protracted court battles, as seen in broader New Mexico basin cases like the Aamodt litigation, where tribal claims disrupted non-Indian allocations by asserting priority dates predating statehood. The disputes intensified in the 20th century with Bureau of Reclamation operations diverting flows for Middle Rio Grande projects, leaving upstream users, including the Pueblo's traditional acequias, underserved.^[85]^[86] Negotiations culminated in the 2023 Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Agreement, ratified locally between the Pueblo, the state of New Mexico, the Aragon Ditch Association, and other parties, resolving all claims in the basin without further litigation. The agreement quantifies the Pueblo's rights at levels supporting 100 years of projected needs, including 4,000 acre-feet for surface irrigation, subsurface recovery, and municipal expansion, while authorizing non-Indian users to maintain existing diversions under state administration. To implement this, the Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 (S. 563/H.R. 1323), introduced in February 2025, establishes a federal trust fund appropriated at $745 million for Pueblo infrastructure, such as pipeline rehabilitation, irrigation modernization, and bosque riparian restoration along 12 miles of riverfront. It also mandates U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs oversight and caps tribal claims to prevent expansion beyond settled amounts, providing legal certainty amid climate-driven variability in the Chama's average 500 cubic feet per second flow.^[87]^[88]^[89] As of October 2025, the bill has advanced through Senate committee with unanimous support for bundled tribal settlements but awaits full congressional enactment and presidential approval, delaying full funding and infrastructure deployment. Proponents argue the settlement averts economic losses from litigation—estimated in millions annually—and aligns with federal policy favoring negotiated resolutions over judicial impositions, as in the 2016 Navajo-San Juan settlement. Critics, including some acequia advocates, contend it reallocates scarce water from historic Hispanic communities to tribal development, potentially straining basin-wide supplies during droughts, though the agreement includes mitigation leases for instream flows benefiting fish habitat and recreation.^[90]^[91]^[92]

Environmental degradation and restoration efforts

The construction of Abiquiu Dam in 1963 has resulted in channel degradation and riparian habitat loss along the Rio Chama downstream, as clear-water releases trap sediment upstream and reduce natural sediment transport, leading to incision and armoring of the riverbed.^[93] Similarly, sediment-starved irrigation water from dams contributes to downstream soil erosion in agricultural fields and elevated non-point source pollution, impairing water quality.^[94] Invasive plant species, including Class A and B noxious weeds such as bull thistle, knapweed, Canada thistle, and larkspur, along with brush encroachment, degrade riparian zones and watershed health, exacerbated by overgrazing and aridification.^[95]^[96] The New Mexico Environment Department has addressed pollution through Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments for the Rio Chama watershed, identifying impairments and setting limits for contaminants like sediment and nutrients as of 2020.^[97] In December 2024, the state's Water Quality Control Commission designated protections for segments of the Rio Chama to prevent further degradation from point and non-point sources.^[98] Restoration initiatives include the Rio Chama Flow Project, initiated in 2011 by stakeholders including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages experimental high-flow releases from El Vado Reservoir to mimic natural hydrographs, enhance sediment transport, habitat complexity, and aquatic species support.^[5] The 2005 Rio Chama Watershed Restoration Action Strategy outlines coordinated efforts to combat invasives, restore riparian function, and integrate with TMDLs and regional water planning.^[95] In November 2024, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission launched an urgent channel restoration project in the lower Rio Chama to improve flood conveyance, stabilize banks, and reduce erosion risks from altered flows.^[99] The Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, covering 3.8 million acres across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico since 2019, targets headwater resilience through treatments for wildfire risk, insect outbreaks, and invasive species monitoring via forest plot data collection.^[100]^[101] Co-management under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act for 24.6 miles of the river, by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, implements the 1988 Rio Chama Management Plan to mitigate sedimentation, pollution, and habitat loss while addressing recreational impacts like inadequate sanitation.^[39]^[4]

References

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Santa Fe National Forest : Recreation Site - Rio Chama Wild & Scenic River
### Summary of Flora, Fauna, and Biodiversity for Rio Chama Wild & Scenic River
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How Deep Is the Rio Chama in New Mexico? - A-Z Animals
Sep 11, 2023 · The Rio Chama is one of the major tributaries of the Rio Grande, running 130 miles from Colorado's San Juan Mountains to its mouth at the Rio ...
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Rio Chama | Rivers.gov
The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico. It flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon which is, at times, ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
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Towering cliffs, heavily wooded side canyons, and historical sites offer an outstanding wild river backdrop for the angler or boater. To protect the river ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
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Experimental Flow Releases El Vado Reservoir | U.S. Fish & Wildlife ...
Historically, the Rio Chama experienced periodic flood flows throughout the year, mainly in spring from snowmelt runoff and episodic peaks during the summer ...
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Nov 14, 2019 · The Rio Chama saw it's fair share of infrastructure throughout the 20th century. Three large dams and farm irrigation has affected much of the ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
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Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River - Bureau of Land Management
The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Rio Grande, flows through the Chama River Canyon Wilderness - a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls rise to ...
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[PDF] The Rio Chama Basin: A Social-Ecological History Linking Culture ...
Mar 4, 2016 · Chama either alongside the floodplain of the Rio Chama or into valley bottomlands of tributaries ... Rio Chama is only 130 miles in length ...
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Five-Year Lease of Water Rights Along the Rio Chama
The Rio Chama, a tributary of the Rio Grande, is an ephemeral river located in northern New Mexico. The Rio Chama receives most of its water from the summer ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts<|separator|>
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Rio Chama Basin: NM Interstate Stream Commission
The Chama Basin watershed consists of the Rio Chama, the largest tributary to the Rio Grande, and all of its perennial and ephemeral tributary streams.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
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Rio Chama (USA) - Transect of the Americas
The watershed covers stretches from the San Juan mountains in Colorado to the Rio Chama's confluence with the Rio Grande near Española. ... River Length: 169 kmMissing: origin | Show results with:origin
[13]
[PDF] Rapid Watershed Assessment
The Rio Chama Watershed is located in southern Colorado and north central New Mexico. It covers 2,020,419 total acres (8,176 sq. km). Portions of the Rio Chama ...
[14]
The Rio Chama Watershed - Rio Arriba Concerned Citizens
The Rio Chama Watershed is located in southern Colorado and north central New Mexico. It covers 2,020,419 total acres (8,176 sq. km). Portions of the Rio Chama ...
[15]
[PDF] Water Quality Survey Summary for the Chama River and Select ...
Tributaries of the Chama River sampled during the 2007 survey included Canjilon Creek, Cecilia Canyon Creek, Clear Creek, Placer Creek, Rio Chamita, Rio ...
[16]
The Rio Chama A River Guide to the Geology and Landscapes
This book contains detailed river maps of the seven sections of the Rio Chama, plus its three resplendent reservoirs, from the Colorado headwaters to its ...Missing: course | Show results with:course
[17]
Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River - Bureau of Land Management
The Rio Chama, a major tributary of the Río Grande, flows through a multi-colored sandstone canyon whose walls increase to 1,500 feet above the river as you ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[18]
[PDF] Geology of the Chama quadrangle, New Mexico
Formation both in Wolf Creek and in the Rio Chama Canyon. If the Todilto Formation is missing, as the gypsum pebbles in the basal Morrison north of Cañones ...
[19]
[PDF] U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1733-C
The Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area is in the southeastern part of the Colorado Plateaus physiographic province. Sedimentary rocks in the study area are folded ...
[20]
Streamflow and Water-Quality Trends of the Rio Chama ... - USGS.gov
Dec 1, 2016 · Specific conductance increased downstream in the Rio Grande during the fall/winter baseflow and snowmelt runoff seasons but was similar at the ...
[21]
[PDF] An Economic Evaluation of Peak Flow Management on the Rio Chama
Nov 10, 2021 · A hydrological model of the Rio Chama from El Vado Reservoir to Abiquiu Reservoir is used as a dynamic system framework (Morrison and Stone ...
[22]
[PDF] 2023 Hydrology Summary - National Weather Service
Jan 26, 2024 · Monsoon storms provide brief, intense pulses of sediment rich flows in rivers throughout the state. Prolonged flows only occur during snowmelt ...
[23]
[PDF] Rio Chama Reservoir Operations Pilot Overview and Transmittal ...
Peak flows could redistribute tributary-supplied sediment, transport sediment, form in-channel habitat, and improve existing habitat for fish spawning and ...Missing: baseflow | Show results with:baseflow
[24]
Reclamation prepares for poor water runoff in New Mexico as ...
Apr 21, 2025 · At the end of March, snow water equivalent was 40% of median for the Rio Chama Basin, 62% of median for the Rio Grande headwaters, 27% of median ...
[25]
San Juan-Chama Project - Bureau of Reclamation
The project takes water from the Navajo, Little Navajo, and Blanco Rivers, which are upper tributaries of the San Juan River, for use in the Rio Grande basin.
[26]
Heron Lake State Park - Geologic Tour
Heron Dam was built on Willow Creek near its confluence with the Rio Chama in 1971. This earth fill dam, which is 276 feet tall and 1221 feet long, is designed ...
[27]
El Vado Dam - Bureau of Reclamation
El Vado Dam, located on the Rio Chama about 160 miles north of Albuquerque, was built by the conservancy district in 1934-1935 and was rehabilitated by the ...
[28]
El Vado Dam and Reservoir | Water Operations | UC Region
Jul 10, 2025 · Native Rio Grande Basin water flowing into El Vado Reservoir, up to 100 cfs, is bypassed through the dam to meet demands of Rio Chama water ...
[29]
[PDF] watermaster's report - rio chama mainstream
Dec 22, 2009 · This stretch of the Rio Chama arises as a controlled discharge from Abiquiu Dam, a 325 foot high dam completed in 1963 by the U.S.. Army Corps ...
[30]
Seepage, Rock Stability & Bank Stabilization, Abiquiu Dam and ...
Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir is located on the Rio Chama, approximately 35 miles northwest of Española, New Mexico. The dam consists of low permeability rolled ...<|separator|>
[31]
Water Managers continue to respond to sediment plug on Rio Chama
Jul 18, 2024 · Continue to work closely together to manage Rio Grande water operations and establish a channel for the river after a sediment plug formed in the Rio Chama.Missing: infrastructure | Show results with:infrastructure<|control11|><|separator|>
[32]
Chama River | NM Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions
Oct 16, 2025 · Local Species Available Year Round · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Rio Grande Cutthroat ...
[33]
Rio Chama - Chama River New Mexico Fly Fishing Guide
The Rio Chama originates in south-central Colorado, just above the New Mexico border in the San Juan Mountains and Rio Grande National Forest.
[34]
Rio Chama Watershed Species - FishMap.org
Common Name, Scientific Name, Origin, Occurrence, Source. Rio Grande Shiner, Notropis jemezanus, Native, Historic, NatureServe.
[35]
[PDF] The relationships between benthic macroinvertebrate and local ...
The goal of this research project is to improve understanding of environmental drivers shape the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Rio Chama below El ...
[36]
Rio Chama instream flow assessment
... discharge relationships were developed and contrasted with analyses of existing and future water management. The Rio Chama supports a high value brown trout.<|separator|>
[37]
[PDF] 005 New Mexico Wilderness Alliance - Bureau of Reclamation
Water quality in the Wild and Scenic reach of the Rio Chama downstream of El Vado Dam is impaired due to cold, non-fluctuating temperatures and chronic ...
[38]
[PDF] A Classification of Riparian Plant Associations of the Rio Grande ...
A. Classification of Riparian Plant Associations of the Rio Grande and Closed Basin Watersheds, ... 29 95RG29 Rio Chama Archuleta. B Alnus incana var. tenuifolia- ...
[39]
[PDF] Rio Chama Management Plan
The Rio Chama rnanagement plan was selected from several alternatives that were discussed in the Environmental Assessment. It was evaluat.
[40]
[PDF] New Mexico Riparian Habitat Map Version 2.0 Plus Annotated Legend
Rules: Native trees >75% of the total tree canopy cover. Indicator Species: Trees—Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni (mostly in the Rio Grande valley), Populus.
[41]
Rio Chama Flow Optimization Study - GeoSystems Analysis
GSA scientists are performing a variety of tasks including: mapping riparian vegetation; evaluating correlations between plant communities and different fluvial ...
[42]
[PDF] Rio Chama Flow Project
As the largest tributary in the upper Rio Grande basin, its flows have long supplied water to ancient pueblo people, traditional acequias and modern users, here.
[43]
Santa Fe National Forest | Rio Chama Wild & Scenic River
Mar 5, 2025 · The Rio Chama is about 120 miles long, beginning in the southern San Juan Mountains of South-Central Colorado and joining the Rio Grande near Espanola, NM.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[44]
CONSERVATION | Chama, NM | Fly Fishing Ranch
The riparian woodlands along the Rio Chama are especially suited for nesting birds. Wet meadow habitats are relatively rare in northern New Mexico and Trout ...
[45]
[PDF] Deep-planting techniques to establish riparian vegetation in arid ...
Successful establishment of phreatophytic riparian plant species has been accomplished using deep planting techniques that involve the immediate exploitation of ...
[46]
Rio Chama Wilderness Study Area | Bureau of Land Management
The diversity of habitat types provide for a variety of wildlife. This scenic area includes excellent opportunities for river rafting; the Rio Chama is ...Missing: fauna | Show results with:fauna
[47]
[PDF] biological assessement for rio chama aquatic habitat project
Jul 11, 2019 · To increase the diversity and quality of riparian and aquatic habitat for fish and invertebrates in a two mile reach of the Rio Chama on public ...
[48]
Wilderness - Santa Fe National Forest
Apr 16, 2025 · Water in the Rio Chama brings the canyon to life. Trout flourish in the river, and onshore residents include mule deer, black bears, elk, coyote ...Missing: fauna | Show results with:fauna
[49]
A Cultural History Of The Rio Chama With Dr. Tim Maxwell
Learn about nomadic residents living 3,000 years heavily used the region as evidenced by obsidian spear points and ancient living sites. After the depopulation ...Missing: pre- colonial
[50]
[PDF] Adaptations on the Anasazi and Spanish Frontiers
Two prehistoric sites, LA 6599 and LA 59659, were examined and were found to have agricultural features built during the Anasazi occupation of the Rio. Chama ...
[51]
Discovering the Lower Rio Chama Pueblos Field Trip
Sep 4, 2024 · Join archaeologist Tim Maxwell for a tour of the prehistoric pueblos of the lower Rio Chama Valley, some of the largest villages occupied ...<|separator|>
[52]
Map of classic period sites in the Rio Chama watershed examined in ...
Our case study focuses on ten ancestral Tewa villages in the Rio Chama watershed in northern New Mexico where multi-story adobe villages have collapsed and ...
[53]
Tsama – a Tewa Village, or Should We Say A Town - Abiquiu News
Apr 5, 2024 · Some of these are access-restricted, like the Tsama Pueblo (Tsámaʔ ówîngeh, its Tewa name), an ancestral Tewa community along the Rio Chama.
[54]
[PDF] Collaboration and Indigenous Archaeology in Abiquiú ... - UC Berkeley
Before 1250 CE, the Rio Chama Valley shows evidence of a sparse population with sporadic archaeological evidence of mobile hunter-gatherer groups interacting in ...
[55]
[PDF] A Preliminary Overview of Cultural History in the Lower Rio Chama ...
Report includes a brief description of location and natural environment, site descriptions and a map of site locations, a brief culture history, and an.
[56]
History of Española - Espanola, NM
On July 11, 1598, a scouting party arrived at the village of Ohkay Owingeh, located at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Rio Chama. Here the expedition ...Missing: exploration | Show results with:exploration
[57]
Santo Tomas de Abiquiu - A Genízaro Settlement on the Spanish ...
The town of Santo Tomas de Abiquiu, a Genízaro settlement established in 1754, served as a vital defensive settlement and trading post for Colonial New Mexico.Missing: period | Show results with:period<|control11|><|separator|>
[58]
Abiquiú History | The Grand Hacienda | New Mexico
By the 1730s, early Hispanic colonists created ranchos and plazas in the Rio Chama Valley and founded Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiquiú. However, because of the ...Missing: pre- colonial habitation
[59]
[PDF] A SPANISH COLONIAL AND MEXICAN-PERIOD SITE ALONG NM ...
settlement in the Rio Grande Valley was exposed to raids by nomadic Indians ... Spanish Farming Sites in the Rio Chama Valley. Castetter Laboratory for ...
[60]
[PDF] Safety of Dams Modification Project Draft Environmental Assessment
Original construction of El Vado Dam was completed in 1935 by the Middle Rio Grande. Conservancy District (MRGCD). Due to financial hardship during the Great ...
[61]
Opportunities to Enhance Environmental Flows on the Rio Chama
The construction of El Vado dam on the Rio Chama in 1935 dramatically changed the natural flow of the river, reducing spring runoff and summer scouring floods ...
[62]
[PDF] ABIQUIU DAM
Apr 1, 2024 · Since El Vado Dam was not storing due to construction rehabilitation, all spring runoff on Rio Chama bypassed down to Abiquiu Dam. Abiquiu ...<|separator|>
[63]
Construction Foundation Report for Seepage Control Adits Abiquiu ...
Abiquiu Dam was completed in February 1963. The spillway was modified and the embankment was raised in 1986. The project now consists of a 1,800-foot- long, ...
[64]
Abiquiu Dam P-7396 - Hydropower Reform Coalition
The hydroelectric facilities were constructed in 1990 utilizing an existing outlet of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Abiquiu Dam and Reservoir on the ...<|separator|>
[65]
[PDF] San Juan-Chama Project Water Deliveries
The project has resulted in the establishment of three major reservoir pools on the Rio Chama: Heron,. El Vado, and Abiquiu. Before the project's con ...
[66]
[PDF] The Rio Chama Irrigation Reserve - New Mexico Legislature
Acequias have been a presence along the lower Rio Chama for more than 400 years through drought and flood. Resilient local acequia associations have ...
[67]
Acequias, the Life Stream of Agriculture | Community - Rio Grande Sun
Jul 18, 2013 · Bustos incorporates irrigation from the acequia with modern techniques like drip irrigation so he can operate the farm year around. Construction ...
[68]
[PDF] water demand - New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
Table 5-2 shows that irrigated agriculture is by far the largest component of intentional water use in the Rio Chama watershed, accounting for approximately 94 ...
[69]
[PDF] Appendix N — Agriculture, Land Use, Flood Control, Recreation ...
Proposed water operations evaluated in the Review may affect about 53,000 acres of agricultural land located immediately adjacent to the Rio Chama, Central and ...
[70]
[PDF] Rio Chama - New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
The Rio Chama acequias will operate under the Rate of Flow Administration at all times except when ordered under the Priority Administration. The following ...
[71]
Acequias for More Sustainable Irrigation: Rediscover an Ancient ...
Mar 8, 2025 · In the American Southwest the first acequias were built by Spanish settlers in 1598 near the junction of the Rio Chama and Rio Grande and some ...
[72]
Acequias – Providing Water, Building Community - Abiquiu News
Dec 1, 2023 · Acequias are irrigation canals, derived from Arabic, that require cooperation and coordination between communities and individuals.
[73]
Rio Chama River Permits, Rio Chama Wild and Scenic River
Rating 4.5 (25) Please Read Notifications Drop Down Above. The Rio Chama is 120 miles long, the third largest tributary of the Rio Grande. Beginning in the southern San Juan ...
[74]
Adventures & Experiences in New Mexico | Los Rios River Runners
The Chama Canyon is a full day, 2-day or 3-day adventure. The full day Chama tour begins downstream of the Christ of the Desert Monastery. The rapids are a ...
[75]
Rio Chama Trout Fishing Public Access Below Abiquiu Dam
Aug 4, 2022 · The river boasts about five miles of public access from the base of the dam downstream to just outside the village of Barranca near Abiquiu.
[76]
Chama River Canyon Wilderness
The Wild and Scenic Chama River, popular among river rafters and canoeists, runs through six miles of the Wilderness. Its beauty is so impressive that most ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[77]
[PDF] Hydroelectric management on the Rio Chama: Examining costs and ...
A hydrological model of the system is used as a dynamic framework, and economic values are incorporated in order to calculate the total economic impact of flow ...
[78]
New Mexico's Abiquiu hydropower project completed with DOE help
from 13.8 MW to 16.8 MW. The ...
[79]
New Turbine Increases Hydroelectric Power
May 13, 2011 · The new turbine works with low water flows, 75-235 cubic feet per second (CFS), like in the winter, when less water is released from Abiquiu Dam ...
[80]
El Vado Dam P-5226 - Hydropower Reform Coalition
General information ; Waterway, Rio Chama ; Current status, Active license ; Type of facility, Conventional Hydro ; Mode of hydropower generation, Run-of-river.
[81]
Abiquiu Dam | Hydroelectric Power Plant in Abiquiu, NM - GridInfo
Abiquiu Dam is comprised of 3 generators and generated 2.6 GWh during the 3-month period between September 2024 to December 2024. Plant Name, Abiquiu Dam.
[82]
Geothermal & Hydropower - Dreaming New Mexico - Bioneers
The San Juan basin produces 30 MW from the Navajo and Farmington dams. In the Rio Grande basin about 50 MW comes from Elephant Butte, Abiquiu, and El Vado dams.
[83]
[PDF] Hydroelectric management on the Rio Chama: Balancing competing ...
Nov 7, 2024 · A system dynamics model of the dam allows a cost-benefit analysis of dispatchable energy production in the presence of constraining daily,.
[84]
[PDF] American Indian Water Rights - Utton Center
Pueblo and Tribal water rights belong to the Pueblo or Tribe, rather than individuals, and are adjudicated to that governmental entity.<|control11|><|separator|>
[85]
[PDF] Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement
Sep 12, 2023 · The settlement resolves a 60-year-old lawsuit filed against Ohkay Owingeh. It without litigation resolves Ohkay Owingeh's water rights claims ...Missing: disputes | Show results with:disputes<|separator|>
[86]
State agencies request advance funding for pending Tribal water ...
Mar 13, 2025 · In the interim, lawsuits sparked between Pueblos, acequias and other users. (The Ohkay Owingeh lawsuit over Rio Chama water use is more than 60 ...Missing: disputes | Show results with:disputes
[87]
Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 ...
Feb 13, 2025 · —Ohkay Owingeh may allocate, distribute, and lease the Pueblo Water ... farm improvements for irrigation, livestock, and support of agriculture.
[88]
Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. It also establishes and provides funding for a ...
[89]
Details on the U.S. House proposals to resolve tribal water rights ...
Jul 29, 2024 · There are outstanding water rights claims on the Rio Grande that are not settled in the legislation. $745 million goes to the Ohkay Owingeh ...
[90]
[PDF] testimony - Department of the Interior
Jul 9, 2024 · H.R. 8685 would resolve all of Ohkay Owingeh's water rights claims in the Rio Chama basin in. New Mexico; ratify and confirm the water rights ...<|separator|>
[91]
Tribal Water Rights Settlements Legislation Passes Unanimously ...
Mar 5, 2025 · The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act is also led by Heinrich and Leger Fernández. ... water infrastructure to use the water ...
[92]
Heinrich, Leger Fernández Introduce Legislation to Approve Ohkay ...
Jun 13, 2024 · The Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act establishes a trust fund to implement the negotiated settlement between the United ...
[93]
Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant ...
The purpose of the proposed action is to improve fish and wildlife habitat conditions on the Rio Chama, and support increasing sport fish and wildlife ...
[94]
[PDF] HANGING IN THE - RiversEdge West
For example, on the Rio Chama, better streamflow management could yield a healthier trout fishery, more reliable flows for whitewater recreation, adequate water ...Missing: variations | Show results with:variations
[95]
[PDF] Rio Chama Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) - 2005
Lopez Canyon. Currently this four miles stretch is not a perennial stream. Incised channel has widened exposing steep streambanks and reduced riparian ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[96]
Watershed Restoration Is Key - New Mexico Water Advocates
Aug 5, 2025 · Overgrazing, the spread of invasive plant species, and aridifying climate conditions damage the riparian ecosystems around streams and arroyos.
[97]
[PDF] CHAMA RIVER WATERSHED - New Mexico Environment Department
May 1, 2020 · The 2012 Rio Chama water quality survey area falls within the Rio Chama. WPR. BBER projects that the Rio Chama WPR will begin to experience ...
[98]
New Mexico water board votes to protect 250 miles of river and ...
Dec 10, 2024 · The Water Quality Control Commission voted 10-0 to protect portions of the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Cimmaron, Pecos and Jemez river watersheds in ...Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
[99]
Urgent River Restoration Project Underway in Lower Rio Chama
Nov 20, 2024 · The project, undertaken by the NM Interstate Commission aims to restore the river's ability to handle significant water flows and mitigate ...
[100]
Common ground in the Rio Chama | US Forest Service
Nov 6, 2023 · The Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project is an ecosystem restoration project that spans 3.8 million acres of forested lands and ...
[101]
Rio Chama CFLRP – 2-3-2 Cohesive Strategy Partnership
Restore watershed and riparian areas to improve water quality and watershed function; Improve range conditions and wildlife habitat and connectivity; Support ...<|separator|>