In keeping with the county-wide burn ban enacted on January 15 and extended on April 9, fires--including charcoal fires--are not permitted within Amistad National Recreation Area. To read the Val Verde County Commissioners Court Order, click "More". More
Park Closures
Diablo East Marina Cove, Scuba Cove, and Walkway Access Are Closed
The Diablo East Marina Cove, Scuba Cove, and walkway access are closed because of the presence of excessive docking material, unsafe walkway and dock, and unstable, loose ground. The area will reopen once these hazards have been corrected.
Only Left Side of Diablo East and Rough Canyon Boat Ramps Are Open - Rest Are Closed
Due to low water levels, only the left side of Diablo East and Rough Canyon boat ramps are open. Please use caution with Spur 406 and Spur 454 launches, as the water may be too shallow to launch most boats. To see a list of open ramps, click on "more." More
Due to the recent illegal lighting of a fire in the trash bin, the theft of government signs, and the unauthorized movement of barricades to drive into an area closed to vehicle traffic, the metal gate at the upper end of Box Canyon has now been closed.
View of Highway 90 bridge over Amistad Reservoir from Diablo East trail.
NPS
Climate
The climate at Amistad is semi-arid in moisture and subtropical in temperature. Humidity is more often high than low, with periodic morning fog. Summers are long, hot, and frequently humid; winters are mild and vary between sunny, warm, cloudy, and cool weather.
Nearly 80% of the annual precipitation occurs from April through October. During this period, rainfall is mainly in the form of thunderstorms and heavy downpours often resulting in flash flooding. The small amount of precipitation for November through March usually falls as steady light rain or drizzle. Average annual rainfall is near 19 inches. Rainfall extremes vary from 4.34 inches in 1956 to 37.75 inches in 1914.
Over the course of a year, the temperature at Amistad typically varies from 40°F to 98°F and is rarely below 31°F or above 102°F. The hot season lasts from May 24 to September 10 with an average daily high above 91°F. The hottest day of the year is August 11 with an average high of 98°F. The cold season lasts from November 24 to February 17 with an average daily high below 70°F. The coldest day of the year is January 1 with an average low of 40°F and high of 65°F.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Record High (°F)
92
99
103
106
109
112
111
109
110
109
96
90
Average High (°F)
64
69
76
84
90
95
97
97
91
82
72
64
Average Low (°F)
41
45
52
60
68
74
75
75
70
61
50
41
Record Low (°F)
12
11
19
33
45
49
63
60
43
28
17
10
Average Precipitation (inches)
0.72
0.92
1.14
1.65
2.81
2.35
1.78
2.18
2.20
2.23
0.93
0.65
Historical Lake Level Data
The graph shows Lake Amistad's water surface elevation to February 24, 2023.
International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)
Text only description of image: The graph shows Lake Amistad’s water surface elevation from 1968 to February 23, 2023. The vertical axis of the graph shows elevation from 1020 feet (311 meters) to 1150 feet (351 meters) with designations made at 10-foot intervals. The horizontal axis represents the years from 1968 to 2023 with designations made every 2 years.
Elevations demarcated on the graph: Lowest Outlet at 283.5 meters, Spillway Crest at 1086.4 feet (331 meters), Conservation Pool Elevation at 1117 feet (340.46 meters), Bottom of Spillway Gates at Full Open at 345.64 meters, Top of Flood Control Pool at 347.59 meters, Top of Super Storage Pool at 348.78 meters, Bottom of Spillway Bridge Beams at 349.58 meters, Lowest Known Embankment Settlement Point at 350.79 meters, Bottom of Spillway Bridge at 350.95 meters.
Approximate Water Level Every Two Years
1968 – 1020 feet
1970 – 1070 feet
1972 – 1100 feet
1974 – 1121 feet
1976 – 1118 feet
1978 – 1112 feet
1980 – 1116 feet
1982 – 1121 feet
1984 – 1115 feet
1986 – 1112 feet
1988 – 1119 feet
1990 – 1115 feet
1992 – 1124 feet
1994 – 1110 feet
1996 – 1075 feet
1998 – 1084 feet
2000 – 1081 feet
2002 – 1067 feet
2004 – 1086 feet
2006 – 1110 feet
2008 – 1109 feet
2010 – 1115 feet
2012 – 1108 feet
2014 – 1082 feet
2016 – 1093 feet
2018 – 1087 feet
2020 – 1070 feet
2022 – 1069 feet
Noted Historic Levels
September 22, 1974 – 1135.66 feet
July 6, 2010 – 1129.86 feet
May 2013 – (Historic Low) 1055.9 feet
August 15, 2022 – (Historic Low) 1052.44 feet
July 17, 2024 – (New Historic Low Reached) 1,047.15 feet
Storage at Conservation (in Thousand Cubic Meters)
1964 – 1980: 4,174,100 TCM
1981 – 1992: 4,173, 900 TCM
1993 – 2004: 3,883,160 TCM
2005 – 2018: 4,036,250 TCM
(Decreases in water storage capacity due to silt accumulation.)
(Increases in storage capacity due to consolidation of silt during drought.)
For more information on Amistad's weather, climate, and water...
Climate and hydrology shape ecosystems and how they function. This report summarizes Water Year 2022 climate, groundwater, reservoir level, and springs data. We monitor climate and water by taking measurements throughout the year, which helps us track changes over time.
Offices:Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Inventory and Monitoring Division
Climate and water dramatically shape ecosystems, especially in arid and semi-arid places like Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) in Texas. The reservoir at the park receives drainage from water basins in the U.S. and Mexico, including the Pecos and Devils rivers and the Rio Grande. The park supports a wide variety of plants and animals because it is in a transition zone between major life and climate zones. We monitor climate and water to assess park ecosystems.
