Rio Hondo (Southern New Mexico)
Encyclopedia
The Rio Hondo is a 79 miles (127.1 km) river
in southern New Mexico
which begins at the confluence
of the Rio Bonito
and Rio Ruidoso
rivers near the town of Hondo, New Mexico
. The river flows eastward through the Hondo Valley in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca and Capitan Mountains
, roughly paralleling the route of US Route 70 through the towns of Picacho and Tinnie. Near the community of Riverside the river passes through a deep canyon before entering the rolling hills west of Roswell
.
Approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Roswell the river enters an Army Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir known as the Two Rivers Dam. The reservoir is typically dry except during the spring runoff
. The reservoir also contains the runoff of Rocky Arroyo, an intermittent stream that parallels the Rio Hondo a few miles to the south. Two earth fill dams totaling 7825 feet (2,385.1 m) in length have the capacity to impound 168000 acre.ft of water. The two dams act as two separate reservoirs, one for the Rio Hondo and one for Rocky Arroyo unless the water level is very high. Then the Rio Hondo and Rocky Arroyo reservoirs merge into a single large reservoir.
After passing through the reservoir, the Rio Hondo begins to meander through the flat land of the Pecos River
valley. Rocky Arroyo merges with the Rio Honda 1 miles (1.6 km) west of the Roswell International Air Center
then the Hondo travels northeasterly through Roswell. In many areas the natural route of the river has been altered. This is especially true in the city of Roswell where the river has been lined with concrete or paving stones. In Roswell a small tributary, the Spring River, joins the Hondo. Just east of Roswell another tributary, the Berrendo River, also joins, and 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream from there the Rio Hondo empties into the Pecos River near Bottomless Lakes State Park
.
The upper stretch of the river typically flows year-round, however irrigation
along the length of the river siphons off much of the natural flow. By the time the river reaches Roswell it is dry, except after storms and during the spring runoff from the mountains.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in southern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
which begins at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Rio Bonito
Rio Bonito (New Mexico)
The Rio Bonito is a small river in the Sierra Blanca Mountains of southern New Mexico, USA. The headwaters of the river start in the Lincoln National Forest on the slopes of Sierra Blanca and travel eastward until they merge with the south fork of the Rio Bonito just west of Bonito Lake, a man-made...
and Rio Ruidoso
Rio Ruidoso
The Rio Ruidoso is a long river located in the Sierra Blanca and Sacramento Mountains in Lincoln County and Otero County, New Mexico in the United States and is part of the Rio Ruidoso Watershed...
rivers near the town of Hondo, New Mexico
Hondo, New Mexico
Hondo is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about five miles downstream from Ruidosos Downs, where the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso rivers join together to form the Rio Hondo. It is located at the point where U.S. Route 70 is joined by U.S. Route...
. The river flows eastward through the Hondo Valley in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca and Capitan Mountains
Capitan Mountains
The Capitan Mountains are a mountain range in Lincoln County, in south-central New Mexico in the southwestern United States. The range is about 20 miles long from east to west and about 6 miles wide, formed from a large, elongated granite intrusion similar to the round one that produced Carrizo...
, roughly paralleling the route of US Route 70 through the towns of Picacho and Tinnie. Near the community of Riverside the river passes through a deep canyon before entering the rolling hills west of Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
.
Approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast of Roswell the river enters an Army Corps of Engineers flood control reservoir known as the Two Rivers Dam. The reservoir is typically dry except during the spring runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
. The reservoir also contains the runoff of Rocky Arroyo, an intermittent stream that parallels the Rio Hondo a few miles to the south. Two earth fill dams totaling 7825 feet (2,385.1 m) in length have the capacity to impound 168000 acre.ft of water. The two dams act as two separate reservoirs, one for the Rio Hondo and one for Rocky Arroyo unless the water level is very high. Then the Rio Hondo and Rocky Arroyo reservoirs merge into a single large reservoir.
After passing through the reservoir, the Rio Hondo begins to meander through the flat land of the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
valley. Rocky Arroyo merges with the Rio Honda 1 miles (1.6 km) west of the Roswell International Air Center
Roswell International Air Center
Roswell International Air Center , also known as Roswell Industrial Air Center, is a city-owned public-use airport located seven miles south of the central business district of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, United States....
then the Hondo travels northeasterly through Roswell. In many areas the natural route of the river has been altered. This is especially true in the city of Roswell where the river has been lined with concrete or paving stones. In Roswell a small tributary, the Spring River, joins the Hondo. Just east of Roswell another tributary, the Berrendo River, also joins, and 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream from there the Rio Hondo empties into the Pecos River near Bottomless Lakes State Park
Bottomless Lakes State Park
Bottomless Lakes State Park is a state park of New Mexico, USA, located along the Pecos River, about southeast of Roswell. Established in 1933, it was the first state park in New Mexico. It takes its name from nine small, deep lakes located along the eastern escarpment of the Pecos River valley...
.
The upper stretch of the river typically flows year-round, however irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
along the length of the river siphons off much of the natural flow. By the time the river reaches Roswell it is dry, except after storms and during the spring runoff from the mountains.
External links
- "The Hondo Valley — Picacho, Tinnie, Arabela, Hondo, and San Patricio" SouthernNewMexico.com