Overview
Elephant Butte Reservoir is New Mexico's largest reservoir - about 36,000-36,500 acres at full pool - on the Rio Grande north of Truth or Consequences. Elephant Butte Dam (1916) is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation storage, hydropower, and flood control; Elephant Butte Lake State Park anchors recreation. When full, Elephant Butte is among the larger reservoirs in the Rio Grande basin and a rare New Mexico pelican haunt.
At full pool the lake stretches roughly 40 miles with about 200 miles of shoreline and hydraulic depth near 197 feet. Desert hills, islands, and broad flats create a classic Rio Grande storage reservoir - when drought lowers the pool, usable acreage shrinks dramatically. Long droughts have repeatedly shrunk the lake to a fraction of full-pool acreage in recent decades.
Striped bass, walleye, black bass, and catfish fisheries are managed by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. State park marinas, ramps, and campgrounds provide primary public access. Elephant Butte Lake State Park is New Mexico largest state park and the main recreation landlord on the shore.
Top of active conservation is about 4,407 feet above mean sea level. Multi-year drought routinely drops elevations far below full pool, so monitoring current lake levels is essential for ramps, boating channels, and shoreline camping. Rio Grande Project deliveries to southern New Mexico and Texas drive many release decisions from the dam.
Current Conditions
Elephant Butte Reservoir is currently 131.69 feet below full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.06 ft
- 30-day changeDown 8.81 ft
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Elephant Butte Reservoir is a 36,500-acre reservoir on the Rio Grande managed by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.