Higher water levels on the Rio Grande offer greater opportunities for fun and recreation, but they also can be dangerous. Corrales Fire Chief Anthony Martinez said his department has made six water rescues since May 5.
A man died while ripping through the white waters of Taos Box, KOB said. His body was recovered near Pilar on Saturday.
"Even though this looks beautiful, it can be very dangerous,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said during a press conference held by city leaders and first responders.
Due to heavy snowmelt, the Rio Grande is four times higher than last year, Corrales park officials reported. A busy monsoon season coupled with plenty of snow in the mountains created heavy snowmelt. “It’s about 4,600 cubic feet per second,” Dennis Vasquez with Albuquerque's Park and Recreation Department said at the press conference.
The state suffered seven water deaths over the last 12 months, said Scott Chalmers, coordinator of boating safety and education programs for New Mexico state parks. Five of them were paddlers and two were on rivers. Two of three deaths this year have been on rivers, according to KOB.
Water lovers are heading for the state's lakes and rivers, hoping to take advantage of the high water levels after enduring several years of drought conditions. “It’s typically been very shallow,” boater Octavio Zamarron told KOB. “So we’ve hit a lot of sandbars and stuff like that. But, this year it looks like the water is pretty high.”
Officials are reminding water-goers to be careful and take precautions such as wearing a properly fitted life jacket.
“You don’t want to drown in the river or anywhere else where there is water,” Zamarron said.
Martinez said his department is putting up signs to remind visitors that wearing a life jacket is the law while on the river.
For more information on boating safety, visit emnrd.nm.gov.