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Date: October 1, 2026
To: Buckman Direct Diversion Board
From: Matthew Sandoval, BDD Operations Superintendent
Subject: Update on BDD Operations for the Month of September 2026
ITEM:
1. This memorandum is to update the Buckman Direct Diversion Board (BDDB) on BDD
operations during the month of September 2026. The BDD diversions and deliveries have
averaged, in Million Gallons Per Day (MGD), as follows:
September 2026 2025
Raw water diversions 3.12 MGD 4.22 MGD
Raw water delivery to Las Campanas at BS2A 0.58 MGD 0.39 MGD
Drinking water deliveries through Booster Station 4A/5A 3.43 MGD 4.08 MGD
2. Water supply to the City and County from all sources.
September 2026 2025
BDD 36.2 % 37.2 %
Canyon Rd WTP 13 % 38.6 %
City Wells 25.7 % 8.2 %
Buckman Wells 25.1 % 1.6%
3. The BDD year-to-date diversions are depicted below:

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Regional Water Overview
Daily metered regional water demand for the month averaged approximately: 10.7 MGD
Rio Grande flows averaged approximately: 235 CFS (cubic feet per second)
SJC diversions for the month:
City SJC 99%
County SJC 0%
Las Campanas SJC 1%
City/County/Las Campanas Storage- as updated by partners. As of Septmebr 21, 2026 City of SF
Abiquiu SJC storage is at about 1432.15 AF.
Regional Water Supply
BDD Finished water percent of total BDD delivery (not including Canyon Rd WTP or any wells):
CRWTP reservoir storage: Nichols: 46.65% McClure: 13.50% Watershed Inflow: 12.28 MGD
• Santa Fe SNOTEL
o Cumulative snow Water/Equiv. Inches 0.0
o Cumulative Snow in Depth in Inches 0.0
City 51.6%
County 29.4%
Las Campanas 19%

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Current Rio Grande Flows
Rio Grande flows (measured at the Otowi gage, shown below) are significantly below normal (5-
10% of historic mean flows).
Source: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-08313000/statistical-graphs/
Current El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Status Summary
At the time this report is being prepared (9/18/26) NOAA is reporting the presence of El Niño
conditions. Sea surface temperatures are above average in the eastern equatorial Pacific, with a
temperature index of +3.0°C. Additionally, the equatorial subsurface temperature index increased in
July, now reaching +10.0°C at depth. NOAA is forecasting that the El Niño system will continue to
strengthen and expects (greater than 90% chance) that a very strong event will occur in the fall and
winter of 2026 - 2027.
Source: cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

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Seasonal Precipitation and Temperature Outlooks:
The current NOAA one-month outlook indicates precipitation forecasts are leaning above normal
for all of New Mexico. The one-month outlook indicates equal chances of above- or below-normal
temperatures for the northern portion of the state. The current NOAA three-month outlook indicates
that precipitation forecasts are leaning above normal for New Mexico and the Colorado River
Basin. The three-month temperature outlook suggests there are equal chances of above- or below-
normal temperatures for New Mexico.
Maps of one- and three-month temperature and precipitation forecasts are provided below.
Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

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Summary/Interpretation
Observed low Rio Grande flows are likely to continue unless/until monsoon precipitation becomes a
significant source of flow. San Juan Chama Project allocations for 2026 will likely be significantly
less than 100%, with allocations through July at 27.2% of full allocations. The three-month
precipitation outlook is promising, with the current presence of El Niño conditions potentially
resulting in higher-than-normal precipitation during late summer and fall monsoons.

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Data is current as of 9/21/2026

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