News Release Archive

Start of 2010 Rio Grande Project Irrigation Season

Media Contact: Lorenzo Arriaga, (915) 534-6321, larriaga@usbr.gov
Filiberto Cortez, fcortez@usbr.gov

For Release: February 02, 2010

The Bureau of Reclamation will begin releasing water from Elephant Butte Reservoir on Thursday, February 4, in preparation for the 2010 irrigation season in southern New Mexico, west Texas and Mexico.

Approximately 700 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water will be released from Elephant Butte Dam through the poweplant to flow into Caballo Reservoir 20 miles downstream for storage. This water will be readily available to help meet agricultural and other Rio Grande Project demands through the irrigation season. It is anticipated the releases from Elephant Butte will remain constant through approximately March 1, 2010 at which point it will likely increase to approximately 1,400 cfs.

At the start of the irrigation season, which is currently scheduled for March 2, 2010, Reclamation will initiate releases of approximately 770 cfs from Caballo Reservoir.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.