A striking features of the Rios Gallina, Cebolla, and Chama Watersheds is that these rivers are surrounded by and originate in mountains exceeding 11,000 feet in height.
In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east, elevations of its mountains even exceed 12,000 feet.
Because of these high altitudes, high precipitation, and high runoff potentials, the groundwater recharge is often at elevations in excess of 10,000 feet, resulting in good quality, flow, and a cleansing recharge of groundwaters.
The western edge of the Rio Chama Watershed is the Continental Divide as illustrated and by definition.