Water Releases from Mexico

[badknees]

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER
MOUNTAIN TERRAIN OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL FROM ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP. IN ADDITION...THE RIO
GRANDE IS ELEVATED DUE TO RELEASES OUT OF THE LUIS LEON RESERVOIR
IN MEXICO. AS A RESULT...MINOR FLOODING NEAR PRESIDIO IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT. ANY HEAVY RAINFALL ALONG THE RIO GRANDE WILL FURTHER
AGGRAVATE THESE CONDITIONS.
REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

RELEASES OUT OF THE LUIS LEON RESERVOIR WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE
WEEKEND...WITH RIVER LEVELS FORECAST TO RISE INTO EARLY NEXT
WEEK. AS FLOWS INCREASE...RIVER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH MAJOR
FLOOD CATEGORY EARLY NEXT WEEK. THESE ELEVATED RIVER LEVELS WILL
LIKELY LEAD TO FLOODING OF ROADWAYS NEAR THE RIVER...INCLUDING
HIGHWAY 170.

[SHANEA]

Probably not the time to plan on going to the hot springs...

[RichardM]

Probably not the time to plan on going to the hot springs...

Not unless you bring your scuba gear.

See http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?08375300 for the latest gage measurements.

When the Rio Grande rises above three feet in depth (at the Rio Grande Village gauge), river water flows into the spring, often submerging it. Following flooding, the spring may be covered in mud or debris and requires some digging to form a suitable space for bathing.

[westtex]

Friends of mine just completed an overnight trip of the Great Unknown, Cottonwood Campground to RGV Campground.  40 miles to Talley the first day, then 29 miles to RGV the next.  I will try to get some pictures out of them. 

[Roy]

The river is defintely running;  flooding in Presidio, close to it all the way to RGV.

Daily Report

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/upload/DAILYREPORT.pdf

[emsprofessional]

Gotta love the desert, nothing but extremes.  First no water, then way to much.  I was looking at the weather and looks like lots of rain chances for the next two weeks.  So combine the already wet ground, the releases from Mexico with it looks like river will be flowing high for a while. 

Be safe and listen before entering low water crossings.  Don't want anyone swept away by a wall of water.

[westtex]

Pictures taken by BBRSP Ranger this morning near Lajitas:

[01ACRViper]

great pictures, that's amazing! i'd love to see what it looks like in the park

[Roy]

National Weather Service has flood warnings from Presidio east to Boquillas.  Major flooding forecast for this entire stretch of the Rio Grande.  Close to 23 foot crest near Presidio, higher than a record set in 1958.  22 foot crest estimated at Boquillas, higher than the 1990 flood. 

Daily Report:

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/upload/DAILYREPORT.pdf 

[SHANEA]

Current Park Conditions:
The Santa Elena Canyon Trail, the Rd from Castolon to Santa Elena Canyon, Cottonwood Campground,
Rio Grande Village class A campground, Maverick Rd, Hot Springs Rd and Trail, and the Window Trail
are closed. There are no river take outs accessible for Santa Elena Canyon. River Road West is 4x4
required. The Rd to Oak Springs is high clearance required, 4X4 recommended. The laundromat and showers at Rio Grande Village are closed for repairs.[/url]

[javelina]

How high is it at Santa Elena, I wonder?   Is it going to get as high at the water mark on the bathrooms?  We have seen it up to the top of the bank going from the parking lot when the creek was flooding...

oxox

ww

[BB BOB]

We rafted Santa Elena with FFA last Trursday 9/11 when the crest was 21 ft. at the La Jitas put in.  The golf course was under water and we floated right over it.  Great trip.  We put in at 8:30 and pulled out at Cottonwood camp at 3:30 with a stop for lunch at the normal spot before entering the actual canyon.  The rockslide was completly under water, what a ride.  Averaged 6 mph while moving.  Cottonwood camp was closed and half under water, 19 ft. at the pull out spot. 

[SHANEA]

We rafted Santa Elena with FFA last Trursday 9/11

Pictures Por Favor?   

[BB BOB]

Let me get permission from the owner this morning. 

[BB BOB]

For pictures of our 9/11 float trip through Santa Elena at high water see the following:

http://picasaweb.google.com/drebe102/SantaElenaFloatTrip#

Enjoy.