Should New Mexico Build A Pool At Elephant Butte?

You're probably wondering why a lake needs a permanent pool. Elephant Butte reservoir, located near Truth Or Consequences, is damn near empty; that's why.

Elephant Butte is currently at only 3% of its capacity, the lowest it has eve been. So low that some fear it may soon, for the first time ever, soon be completely empty.

A new petition wants the governor and state lawmakers to send water that now goes to other reservoirs throughout New Mexico to Elephant Butte to maintain a permanent water pool.

READ MORE: Elephant Butte Just Got A Makeover 

Additionally, Elephant Butte stores and releases water for the Rio Grande Compact in New Mexico. “All we’re talking about is setting up a situation whereby different entities can store their water down here, as opposed to storing it in other places that, quite frankly, don’t have the environmental impact that this one does, and certainly doesn’t have the economic impact for the state of New Mexico, for state parks anyway, that this one has as well", said Greer. - krqe

By economic impact, Greer is referring to the zillions of visitors Elephant Butte attracts regularly, especially weekends and holidays. For example, Greer estimates Memorial Day Weekend saw, (about), 60,000 people, the fourth of July brought in around 100,000 - 150,000 and Labor Day weekend may bring in another 30,000 - 50,000.

Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce President Earl Greer says this is the lowest the lake has been in years.

Elephant Butte is the biggest lake in New Mexico and certainly has a BIG impact on the state, nature, area residents and wildlife. Losing it would be a disaster for the area and heartbreaking for those who love to go boating, skiing, fishing, etc, etc there.