Ruidoso Flood News Reports


Senator Pete Domenmici announces USDA flood disaster relief sought


Ruidoso News


KQRE Channel 13


KOAT Channel 7


LNFS release


SBA Disaster Role


Ruidoso Flood Other Links



Rio Ruidoso Stream Flow - Upper Canyon (broken)


Rio Ruidoso Stream Flow - Hollywood


USGS - Water



Lincoln County


Village of Ruidoso

Ruidoso Flood 2008 Today:

The following bridges are closed or not cleared for transportation:

Close, Country Club, Coyote, Eagle, Fox and Main, McDaniels, North Grindstone, North Loop, River Road/River Crossing,  Sleepy Hollow, Valencia.

It is very IMPORTANT to know that Ruidoso is open for business.  The damage to the town was isolated along the river and mainly in the Upper Canyon area. Work continues in town with more affected bridges and streets opening up.  All main roads are open and the town is very accessible!

The Ruidoso Flood 2008 Story

Ruidoso, NM -- The day dawned on Sunday July 28, a little cloudy and cool, after a night and a day of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Dolly. The total amount of rainfall around the Ruidoso area ranged from five to seven inches. By no means a record but still a significant amount of rainfall.

The peak flow measured at the Hollywood Station registered 1630 cubic feet per second (cfs). This was the second highest amount recorded at this gauge since records have been kept starting in 1954. Other significant water flow amounts that have been recorded are in the table below. (source USGS)

1941 flood - Carrizo Creek
and the Rio Ruidoso.

Other documented cases of flooding in the area, through eye witnesses, photos, or writings include: the flood of 1869, 1930's, and the "big one" of 1941. The following link leads to the Proceedings of Meeting of New Mexico Flood Control Association Council Chamber, City Hall, Santa Fe, New Mexico October 30, 1941

Most of the year, the Rio Ruidoso is a tiny creek meandering though town. However, with just a little rain it can quickly become a torrent roiling and boiling through town. It is interesting to note that on Sept. 4, 2006, the gage height was almost 5 feet with a streamflow of only 739 cfs.  This is much less water then some of of the other floods over the past 50 years. 

 

In the River condo development - 7-27-08

The 08 flood damage has been exacerbated by the continued development along the Rio Ruidoso. Well meaning people have straightened several areas along its course while others, including developers, have squeezed its path with retaining walls and encroachment.

What the development along the river has effectively done has been to focus the river like a laser, increasing its force and intensity along its path. Where there was a bridge or path across the river it was basically taken out during the flood. Culverts were blasted out the ground like playthings. Concrete and asphalt were pulverized into sand. Man's efforts are sometimes no match for the force and fury of Mother Nature.

Eagle Drive - 7-27-08

What this website will attempt to do is: 1) serve as a record of what has happened and 2) educate people to the destructive force of the Rio Ruidoso during a flood.

Too often we hear people say that they did not know that the river could get so big or do so much damage. Too many times we have heard developers disregard local's testimony in Planning and Zoning meetings about what they have seen historically happen along the river.

We hope then that this site will help people understand why they shouldn't build their "cute" little cabin or house along the river or erect a mobile home park in a flood plain. The river will always flow along the path of least resistance. It may be through your living room.

MAP OF NEW MEXIC

Due to flood related damage the Lincoln National Forest will close various areas. Click here for a release.

Watershed Description and Location

The Hondo Valley watershed, also known as the Rio Hondo Watershed, is a sub-basin of the Lower Pecos and is located in South-Central New Mexico. It is bordered by the Sacramento Mountains on the west, the Capitan Mountains on the North, and Pajarita Mountain on the south. As shown in the map below, 55% of the watershed is in Lincoln County, 12% is in the highlands of Otero County, and the remaining 33% is in downstream Chavez County.  The Hondo Valley watershed drains its 1,076,480 acres (1,674 square miles) into the Pecos River near Roswell, New Mexico.