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New Mexico Water Science Center

Rainfall, Runoff, and Water-Quality Data for the Urban Storm-Water Program in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Metropolitan Area, Water Year 2004

By Todd Kelly, Orlando Romero, and Mike Jimenez

U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 2006–1105

In cooperation with the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority
and the City of Albuquerque


Abstract

Urbanization has dramatically increased precipitation runoff to the system of drainage channels and natural stream channels in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area. Rainfall and runoff data are important for planning and designing future storm-water conveyance channels in newly developing areas. Storm-water quality also is monitored in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the City of Albuquerque, and the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative program to collect hydrologic data to assist in assessing the quality and quantity of surface-water resources in the Albuquerque area. This report presents water-quality, streamflow, and rainfall data collected from October 1, 2003, to September 30, 2004 (water year 2004). Also provided is a station analysis for each of the 18 streamflow-gaging sites and 39 rainfall-gaging sites, which includes a description of monitoring equipment, problems associated with data collection during the year, and other information used to compute streamflow discharges or rainfall records. A hydrographic comparison shows the effects that the largest drainage channel in the metropolitan area, the North Floodway Channel, has on total flow in the Rio Grande.

Table of Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Water-Quality Monitoring

Rainfall and Runoff Data Collection

Annual Daily Mean Flow Hydrograph of the North Floodway Channel and the Rio Grande at Albuquerque Gaging Stations

References Cited

Runoff Data Summary, Water Year 2004

Surface-Water Runoff Data for Water Year 2004

08329700 Campus Wash at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329720 Embudo Arroyo at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329835 North Floodway Channel at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329840 Hahn Arroyo at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329868 Bear Canyon Arroyo Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329870 Bear Arroyo at Jefferson St. at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329882 Pino Arroyo at Jefferson St. at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329888 La Cueva Arroyo Tributary (Upper) at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329900 North Floodway Channel Near Alameda, New Mexico

08329911 North Camino Arroyo at Sunset Hills in Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329926 Calabacillas Arroyo Below Coors Boulevard at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329935 Arroyo 19A at Albuquerque, New Mexico

083299375 Mariposa Diversion of San Antonio Arroyo at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329938 Ladera Arroyo at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330200 San Jose Drain at Woodward Road at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330540 Tramway Floodway Channel at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330600 Tijeras arroyo Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330775 South Diversion Channel Above Tijeras Arroyo Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

08331118 Amole Del Norte Channel at Albuquerque, New Mexico

Rainfall Data Summary, Water Year 2004

Precipitation for Water Year 2004

Precipitation Totals

Comparison to Historical Data

References Cited

08329880 Academy Acres Drain Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350448106390230, Albuquerque City Hall Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350627106364630, AMAFCA Headquarters Rain Gage Nr. Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329935, Arroyo 19A Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350859106274330, Bear Canyon Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

350340106385230, Bernalillo County Building Rain Gage Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

350713106314230, Borland Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329700, Campus Wash Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350400106465630, Crown Towers at Nine Mile Hill Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350954106282330, Elena Gallegos Picnic Area Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350554106283230, Embudo canyon Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350348106453230, Emergency Dispatch Building Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350357106443030, Fire Station #14 Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

350756106305430, Fire Station #16 Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329840, Hahn Arroyo Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

350310106320930, Kirtland Air Force Base Rain Gage at Eubank Gate, Albuquerque, New Mexico

350912106455630, La Boca Negra Rain Gage Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329890, La Cueva Arroyo Tributary Rain Gage Near Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329938, Ladera Arroyo Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350310106434930, Leavitt Pump Station Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350722106325030, Leonard Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

350540106333230, Love Pump Station Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329914, North Camino Arroyo Tributary at Wyoming Boulevard Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329835, North Floodway Channel Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329900, North Floodway Channel Rain Gage Near Alameda, Albuquerque, New Mexico

350417106363330, Orlando Romero Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

350939106430930, Petroglyphs Park Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

351631106481230, Rio Rancho Well #13 Rain Gage, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

08329838, South Fork Hahn Arroyo Rain Gage in Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330200, San Jose Drain Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

351216106421330, Swinburn Dam Rain Gage at Paradise Hills, New Mexico

350924106315630, Tanoan Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08329936, Taylor Ranch Drain Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350755106325830, Thomas Pump Station Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

08330580, Tijeras Arroyo at Montessa Park Rain Gage near Albuquerque, New Mexico

351516106431430, Tm Kelly Rain Gage at Rio Rancho, New Mexico

08330540, Tramway Floodway Channel Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350748106345830, USGS Office Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

351023106313930, Walker Pump Station Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

350119106394630, Wastewater Treatment Plant Rain Gage at Albuquerque, New Mexico

Figures

1.   Map showing U.S. Geological Survey data-collection sites for 2004 Albuquerque Urban Runoff Program
2.   Photographs showing (A) La Cueva rain gage, (B) recorder next to rain gage, and (C) view inside of rain gage
3.   Hydrographs showing discharge at the North Floodway Channel near Alameda in comparision to discahrge at the Rio Grande at Albuquerque streamflow-gaging stations
4.   Graphs showing precipitation totals for water year 2004 in comparison to totals for July through September 2004 at 39 U.S. Geological Survey rain gages
5.   Comparison of total annual precipitation for water year 2004 to average historical total annual precipitation at selected U.S. Geological Survey rain-gage sites
6-9.   Monthly precipitation at selected U.S. Geological Survey rain-gage sites:
  6.   Fire Station #14 rain-gage site
  7.   Bear Canyon Arroyo and Leonard
  8.   North Camino Arroyo and Tijeras Arroyo
  9.   Albuquerque City Hall and Taylor Ranch Drain

Tables

1.   Map locations and station identification numbers
2.   Albuquerque Storm-Water Sampling Program - National Pollution Discharge Elimination System concentrations of 12 priority water-quality constituents plus bacteria for 2004
3.   Period of record of digitally archived unit values for urban streamflow-gaging stations
4.   Period of record of digitally archived unit values for urban rain-gage sites
5.   Maximum flood peak stage and discharge for water year 2004 and for the period of record

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