Recent Conditions
Published February 22, 2012

New Mexico Reservoir Levels

 (data through 1/31/12)
Data Source(s): National Water and Climate Center

Total reservoir storage in New Mexico increased by about 26,000 acre-feet in January (Figure 7). Storage in Elephant Butte Reservoir increased the most, gaining about 37,500 acre-feet. However, storage there is still low, at just 15 percent average. The reservoir is about 7 percent lower than it was one year ago and 44 percent lower than average capacity for January.

In water-related news, New Mexico is on target to meet its water delivery obligations to Texas despite low storage in Elephant Butte, according to State Engineer Scott Verhines (The Associated Press, January 30). Also, New Mexico has been awarded funds for a 10-year, $6.75 million forest and watershed restoration project in the Zuni Mountains (The Associated Press, February 7). Projects will reduce wildfire risk and improve watershed conditions across about 56,000 acres.

New Mexico Reservoir Levels
Notes:

The map gives a representation of current storage levels for reservoirs in New Mexico. Reservoir locations are numbered within the blue circles on the map, corresponding to the reservoirs listed in the table. The cup next to each reservoir shows the current storage level (blue fill) as a percent of total capacity. Note that while the size of each cup varies with the size of the reservoir, these are representational and not to scale. Each cup also represents last year’s storage level (dotted line) and the 1971–2000 reservoir average (red line).

The table details more exactly the current capacity level (listed as a percent of maximum storage). Current and maximum storage levels are given in thousands of acre-feet for each reservoir. One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of 1 foot (approximately 325,851 gallons). On average, 1 acre-foot of water is enough to meet the demands of 4 people for a year. The last column of the table list an increase or decrease in storage since last month. A line indicates no change.

These data are based on reservoir reports updated monthly by the National Water and Climate Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

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