Surface water discharge and evapotranspiration rates for grass and bare soil along a reach of the Rio Grande, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1989-95

The surface-water hydrologic system of the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area is composed of the Rio Grande; irrigation drains, laterals, canals, and ditches; evapotranspiration; and ground-water recharge. Two east-west cross sections were established to measure surface water entering the study area (north section) and exiting the study area (south section). Data for the calculation of surface-water discharge were collected once every 4 to 8 weeks from August 1989 through February 1995. Discharge of the Rio Grande at the north section ranged from 22 to 5,900 cubic feet per second. Discharge of the Rio Grande at the south section ranged from 21 to 6,060 cubic feet per second. Data from six areas (three grass-covered areas and three bare-soil areas) were collected for the calculation of evapotranspiration rates from February 1990 through August 1991. The evapotranspiration rate from the grass-covered areas ranged from 0.15 to 4.7 millimeters per day; the evapotranspiration rate from the bare-soil areas ranged from 0.13 to 6.4 millimeters per day.