City of Albuquerque urges caution for those using the Rio Grande for recreation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With temperatures rising along with spring runoff more people are expected on a faster moving Rio Grande.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue says even though the river might look calm, the water’s often moving a lot faster than people anticipate. “This river is wonderful on many levels, but it’s also dangerous in all levels,” said Dave Simon, City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Director.

The city warned people about the dangers of the Rio Grande with water levels flowing faster along the Rio Grande. “About 85 percent of people who drown from boating in New Mexico were not wearing their life jackets at the time the incident occurred,” said Scott Chalmers with New Mexico State Parks.

Story continues below

• Trending: Farmington HS graduate told to remove Native American beaded graduation cap
• Larry Barker Investigation: The $32 million disappearance
• Events: What’s happening around New Mexico May 17-23
• News: Report gives new details on train derailment near New Mexico-Arizona state line

This year’s spring water flow is expected to be somewhat slower than last year but already the city has worked two river rescues along the Rio Grande.

That includes one Tuesday night when city and county rescue crews had three airboats looking for a missing kayaker whose boat was found abandoned along the riverbank. “They were consuming alcohol beforehand, so, obviously that’s going to impaired judgment a little bit,” said Lt. Chris Schroeder with Albuquerque Police Department’s Open Space Division.

Friends later called emergency responders to report that the kayaker was ok.

The city is reminding people to refrain from drinking if they’re going to get in the water. “We want people to enjoy the outdoors we want them to soak up and love and enjoy the open space we just want people to do it safely,” said Simon.

Last year ten people died in recreation boating incidents across New Mexico five of those were people using paddle boards. “Let’s keep these numbers low we like to practice but at the same token, less rescues means less loss of life,” said Lt. Schroeder.

The city says they’re expecting spring runoff to keep water flows around the same for the next two weeks or so before things slow back down again.

Right now, river flows through Albuquerque are about half of the peak speed that the river charted last May and June.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.