Rio San Antonio is a tributary of the Conejos River in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Via the Conejos River, it is part of the upper Rio Grande system. The river is used extensively for irrigation in its lower course through the southern San Luis Valley.
| Rio San Antonio | |
|---|---|
.JPG) At Highway 142 east of Manassa | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| States | Colorado, New Mexico |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Tusas Mountains |
| • location | Carson National Forest, New Mexico |
| • coordinates | 36°50′56″N 106°18′15″W / 36.84889°N 106.30417°W[2] |
| Mouth | Conejos River |
• location | near Manassa, Colorado |
• coordinates | 37°11′14″N 105°53′54″W / 37.18722°N 105.89833°W[2] |
| Basin size | 348 sq mi (900 km2)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | near mouth[1] |
| • average | 80.6 cu ft/s (2.28 m3/s) |
| • minimum | 0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s) |
| • maximum | 2,620 cu ft/s (74 m3/s) |
The river begins at the western boundary of the Carson National Forest, in the Tusas Mountains, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.[3] It flows east through a steep canyon and receives Rio Nutritas from the south, continuing east towards San Antonio Mountain.[4] Before reaching the mountain it turns north, entering the rocky Taos Plateau volcanic field on the fringe of the San Luis Valley.[5] It enters Conejos County, Colorado at Ortiz, where the Rio de los Pinos joins from the west.[6] The river turns sharply east at Antonito, then continues northeast through farmland before emptying into the Conejos River at Sego Springs Wildlife Area, a few miles east of Manassa.[7][8]
Rio San Antonio Wilderness
editEstablished in 2019 by the U.S. Congress, the Rio San Antonio Wilderness covers 8,120 acres along the river and is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. This wilderness area primarily protects a 100-foot gorge along the Rio San Antonio and the surrounding plains at an elevation of 8,400 feet (2560 m).[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "USGS Gage #8248500 San Antonio River at mouth near Manassa, CO". National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 1923–1982. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ a b "Rio San Antonio". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. 1978-10-13. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Lagunitas Creek, New Mexico quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Broke Off Mountain, New Mexico quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: San Antonio Mountain, New Mexico quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Los Pinos, New Mexico quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Antonito, Colorado quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS). "United States Geological Survey Topographic Map: Manassa, Colorado quad". TopoQuest. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
- ^ Rio San Antonio Wilderness - Wilderness Connect