Rio Brazos (New Mexico)

The Rio Brazos is a 42-mile (68 km) long[2] river flowing through northern New Mexico in the United States. It rises in the Tusas Mountains, a subrange of the San Juan Mountains,[3] and runs generally southwest to a confluence with the Rio Chama, part of the larger Rio Grande system.

Rio Brazos
Location of the mouth of Rio Brazos in New Mexico
Location
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of East and West Forks
• location	Brazos Meadows, San Juan Mountains
• coordinates	36°52′30″N 106°22′29″W[1]
• elevation	9,957 ft (3,035 m)
Mouth	Rio Chama
• location	Near Tierra Amarilla
• coordinates	36°52′30″N 106°22′29″W[1]
• elevation	7,287 ft (2,221 m)
Length	42 mi (68 km)[2]
Basin size	150 sq mi (390 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Gavilan Creek, Encinado Creek
• right	Barrow Canyon, Chavez Creek

The river is formed by two streams, the 8.74-mile (14.07 km) West Fork[2] and the 8.44-mile (13.58 km) East Fork,[2] which converge at Brazos Meadows, just outside the western boundary of the Carson National Forest. For its first few miles, it flows south as a slow-moving, meandering mountain stream. East of Brazos Peak, it swings abruptly west into the Brazos Box, one of the largest canyons in New Mexico with a maximum depth of more than 1,400 feet (430 m).[4] Here, it passes the Brazos Cliffs, receives Gavilan and Encinado Creeks, and picks up an unnamed tributary which feeds Brazos Falls, reputedly New Mexico's highest waterfall with a total drop of 2,400 feet (730 m).[5] Northeast of Tierra Amarilla, the river emerges from the mountains, receiving Chavez Creek from the right. It passes the settlements of Ensenada, Brazos and Los Ojos before flowing into the Rio Chama about 90 miles (140 km) northwest of Santa Fe.[6]

The Brazos is a perennial stream, reaching its highest flows in April and early May from snowmelt in the mountains, and is subject to occasional flash floods caused by summer thunderstorms.[7] Although most of the river's length provides good fishing for brown and rainbow trout, especially the upper section which is one of the largest high-meadow streams in New Mexico, most of the drainage is private property making it largely inaccessible for recreation.[8]

Although most of the Brazos flows through wild lands, the river is heavily used for irrigation in the last 5 miles (8.0 km), with multiple acequias (irrigation ditches) drawing off water. As a result, this section of the river often shrinks to a trickle during the dry season.[9][10] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists the water quality for the last 3.52 miles (5.66 km) of the river as "impaired", owing mainly to agricultural runoff and heavy summer water diversions.[2]