Pecos River rising, but not near flood levels
The Pecos' water levels in Eddy County are only expected to rise slight due to rain and a scheduled water released by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Pecos River rising, but not near flood levels The Pecos' water levels in Eddy County are only expected to rise slight due to rain and a scheduled water released by the Bureau of Reclamation. Check out this story on CurrentArgus.com: https://www.currentargus.com/story/weather/2018/09/07/pecos-river-rising-slightly-but-not-near-flood-levels/1222087002/
Jessica Onsurez, Carlsbad Current-Argus Published 10:15 a.m. MT Sept. 7, 2018
A map on the USGS website indicates where gauges along the Pecos River in Eddy County can be found. For more information about live gauge readings visit weather.gov/abq.(Photo: USGS)
Water levels in the Pecos River in Eddy County are not near flood levels, despite television news reports.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service's Albuquerque and Midland/Odessa stations confirmed that the Pecos River water levels in Carlsbad are just above 10 feet.
Earlier reports by KRQE News 13 erroneously indicated that the river had risen to 12.8 feet, just below the 13 foot flood stage in Carlsbad.
Tod Shoemake, a meteorologist at the NWS Albuquerque station, said the confusion likely came from a Tweet issued around 6 am. Wednesday indicating a projected rise in water levels in the Pecos River in Chaves County north of Roswell.
"The Acme gauge north of Roswell showed rising water in those areas," Shoemake said.
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Hydrologist Royce Fontenot said the Pecos in that area may continue to see a rise as rainfall is expected to continue through the weekend.
However, the Pecos' water levels in Eddy County are only expected to rise slightly Friday and through the weekend due to rain and a scheduled water release by the Bureau of Reclamation.
"The registers we are seeing right now at Acme, north of Roswell, that is from heavy precipitation we had Wednesday morning and Thursday," Fontenot said.
"Carlsbad is fairly low right now."
Water from the reservoir in Fort Sumner is being released by the Bureau of Reclamation causing a swell downriver, he said.
Water levels in Artesia and Lakewood rose slightly, but Fontenot said they had already crested by 9 a.m. Friday and were falling.
"The Pecos is what we call a flashy river. It responds fast," Fotenot said.
"Additional water is coming down, but by and large we are not expecting additional rises. They are possible, however."
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That possibility depends on where expected thunderstorms over Eddy and Lea counties drop rain. He said, the station is continuing to watch predictions for the area that indicate about 60 percent chance of precipitation on Friday and 20 percent on Saturday.
Meteorologist Jennifer Shoemake said Friday that while the Pecos in Eddy County is not expected to breach its banks, the rising water levels should not be taken lightly.
"Even though it's not flooded, it's well above normal. Stay away from the river,"
Jennifer Shoemake said.
In Eddy County, flash flood warnings have been issued. Water rising in low crossing areas, including near arroyos and canyons, could pose danger for anyone attempting to cross them.
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Eddy County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Jennifer Armendariz said that low water crossings in Eddy County were closed briefly Thursday after rains fell over the area.
Radio Blvd. and Boyd Drive were reopened about an hour later when the water levels fell back down, Armendariz said.
"Be aware of arroyos, be aware of low water crossings, and certainly pay attention to forecasts for the next 36 hours," Fontenot said.
For updates on hazardous weather visit weather.gov.
Watch live readings from gauges along the Pecos River at weather.gov/abq.
Jessica Onsurez can be reached at 575-628-5531, jonsurez@currentargus.com or @JussGREAT on Twitter.
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