News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation is conducting a maintenance release between Elephant Butte and Caballo

Media Contact: Mary Carlson, (505)462-3576, mcarlson@usbr.gov

For Release: March 26, 2019

ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. – The Bureau of Reclamation will release water from Elephant Butte Reservoir for a 3-day period starting on Wednesday, March 27, at 9 a.m. as part of a maintenance operation. The dry riverbed between Elephant Butte and Caballo will take on water quickly as it will begin to flow downstream. The public is asked to stay out of the river channel for their safety.

The operation is occurring as the reservoir reaches a specific elevation to move sediment out of the sluice gateway. Reclamation will release between 700 and 1000 cubic feet per second of water through the gate.

The sluice gate will be closed at 3 p.m. on Friday and the channel will then begin drying until May when water movement begins in preparation for the start of the irrigation season.

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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.