Rio Grande full of water again in southern New Mexico
Leah Romero
LAS CRUCES – The Rio Grande is flowing once again through the Mesilla Valley for a significant summer irrigation season.
Water was released from Caballo Dam early Saturday morning, May 13, according to Gary Esslinger, interim manager for Elephant Butte Irrigation District. The water traveled quickly and reached Las Cruces by mid-afternoon Saturday.
2023 irrigation season in southern New Mexico
The 2023 irrigation season is expected to be abundant due to significant snowpack farther north over the winter months. The Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) Board of Directors established surface water allotment at 14 inches this season. Esslinger said it has been at least five years since allotments were this high.
“Atmospheric rivers that were occurring in California, that flooded and devastated California, we got the aftermath which was high elevation snow,” Esslinger said.
He said water is flowing into Elephant Butte at over 5,000 cubic feet per second. Esslinger added that the reservoir was at about 4% capacity in March and increased to about 26% by May.
EBID will continue to monitor snowpack and runoff and adjustments to the allotment may be needed later in the summer.
“It’s a good winter and that runoff will continue probably all of May and June, and into July it should stop,” Esslinger said. “So, we can see a lot of water going into Elephant Butte, and of course that’s a benefit to everyone that recreates and fishes and does the weekend recreation activities.”
According to a news release, diversion into the main canals is estimated to begin May 16 with water delivered to farms beginning May 19.
People with Farm Rate Accounts – two acres or more of land – are able to place water orders online at www.ebid-nm.org or by calling EBID at 575-524-8003.
People with Flat Rate Accounts – less than two acres of land, such as gardens, with water rights that are within EBID boundaries – were approved for two irrigation weekends on June 3-4 and July 8-9. Flat rate accountholders are only allowed to water once during scheduled irrigation weekends.
Esslinger said southern New Mexico should see water flowing in the Rio Grande through about mid-August. From then, the water will continue south through west Texas and Mexico.
Summer recreation at the Rio Grande
River recreation started Saturday with locals taking to the dry riverbed to see the water flow downstream from the north.
Many people enjoy swimming, kayaking or simply soaking their feet in the cool water during the hot summer months. Most weekends you’ll find families soaking up the sun at La Llorona Park near the Picacho Bridge or in Mesilla.
Southwest Expeditions, a recreation company, offers tube floats beginning at Calle Del Norte Bridge in Mesilla, kayak paddles and beginner kayak and canoe lessons during the summer months.
According to the website, the company offers tubing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays without reservation. People are asked to park at the bridge. People will be transported upriver and float back to their vehicles. Weekdays require reservations.
Weekend river paddles also do not require reservations and start at Calle Del Norte Bridge in Mesilla. More information about recreational activities can be found online at swexpeditions.com or by calling 877-808-6877.
Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.
Others are reading: