Rio Pueblo de Taos

The Rio Pueblo de Taos, also known as Rio Pueblo, is a tributary of the Rio Grande in the U.S. state of New Mexico. From its source in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains it flows about 33 miles (53 km),[3] generally south and west, to join the Rio Grande in the Rio Grande Gorge. On the way the river passes by Taos and through Taos Pueblo.[5]

Rio Pueblo de Taos
Rio Pueblo, Taos Creek
Rio Pueblo de Taos at Taos Pueblo
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyTaos
Physical characteristics
SourceBlue Lake
 ⁃ locationTaos Mountains
 ⁃ coordinates36°32′35″N 105°22′27″W[1]
 ⁃ elevation11,312 ft (3,448 m)[2]
MouthRio Grande
 ⁃ location
Rio Grande Gorge
 ⁃ coordinates
36°20′21″N 105°43′50″W[1]
 ⁃ elevation
6,066 ft (1,849 m)[1]
Length33 mi (53 km)[3]
Basin size380 sq mi (980 km2)[4]
Discharge 
 ⁃ locationUSGS gage 08276300, 5 miles above mouth[4]
 ⁃ average61.2 cu ft/s (1.73 m3/s)[4]
 ⁃ minimum0.01 cu ft/s (0.00028 m3/s)
 ⁃ maximum2,380 cu ft/s (67 m3/s)
Photograph of the North Pueblo at Taos, across Rio Pueblo de Taos, by Edward S. Curtis, circa 1925

Course

The Rio Pueblo de Taos originates at Blue Lake, about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico. Several headwater tributaries drain the south and east slopes of Old Mike Peak, Lew Wallace Peak, and Red Dome. The river flows south for about 5 miles (8.0 km), then turns west. It is joined by La Junta Creek from the south, then Buffalo Grass Creek from the north. After flowing west for about 5 miles (8.0 km), and just downstream from the mouths of Frijoles Canyon on the north and Palo Encebado Canyon on the south, the Rio Pueblo de Taos abruptly leaves the mountains. Within a mile the river passes through the center of Taos Pueblo, then turns to flow southwest to the Rio Grande, passing just north of the town of Taos. The river's entire upper course in the mountains is within the Pueblo de Taos Indian Reservation.[5]

Near Taos the Rio Lucero joins the Rio Pueblo de Taos from the north, after which the river flows by the historic Martinez Hacienda. Shortly below that the Rio Fernando de Taos joins from the south, after which the Rio Pueblo de Taos enters Taos Canyon.[6] It is joined by Rio Grande del Rancho, which flows from the south through Ranchos de Taos, Arroyo Seco, from the north, then Arroyo del Alamo, from the south, after which it reaches the Rio Grande in the Rio Grande Gorge a few miles south of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.[5] New Mexico State Road 570 crosses the Rio Grande via the Taos Junction Bridge just below its confluence with the Rio Pueblo de Taos. The area is part of the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.[7]

Names

In addition to Rio Pueblo de Taos and Rio Pueblo, the stream has been known by various other names, including Rio Taos, Taos Creek, Pueblo Creek, Ialap'aijpaana, Ja'lapa, Kipawai, T'awi'impo, and T'awipo.[1]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rio Pueblo de Taos
  2. USGS topographic maps
  3. Calculated in Google Earth
  4. "Water resources data for the United States, Water Year 2009; gage 08276300 Rio Pueblo de Taos below Los Cordovas, NM" (PDF). USGS. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  5. General course info from USGS topographic maps
  6. Phillips, Anna M. (2019-12-31). "Trump's plans to strip clean water protections leave New Mexico fearing pollution and health risks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  7. "Taos Valley Overlook Project and Management Plan" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
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