Elephant Butte Reservoir In New Mexico Is Getting A Makeover

The largest reservoir in New Mexico, Elephant Butte, is getting its first significant improvements in over 100 years.

Elephant Butte was created in 1916 when a dam was built across the Rio Grande about 130 miles north of El Paso. It's the 84th largest man-made lake in the United States of America, 40 miles long with over 200 miles of shoreline.

Improvements have been mostly minor, typically just repairs, over its 108 year history but $11.3 million dollars worth of upgrades are, finally, coming.

This effort will enhance recreational facilities for the popular Elephant Butte Reservoir, which receives over 1 million visitors annually, by addressing critical utility needs and upgrades and ensuring the long-term sustainability of this iconic landmark that has been enjoyed by generations,” the BoR said. - ktsm

What Are They Doing At Elephant Butte?

Among other things, water and wastewater lines will be replaced, overhead power lines will be buried and fiber optic lines will be installed. They're also putting in electric vehicle charging stations.

The RV park is getting fixed up too with new RV hook-ups and “Dark Sky” lighting in the parking lot. Ancient septic and leach field systems are getting upgraded and many areas will be repaved.

“This massive undertaking at the Elephant Butte Historic District is really a transformative infrastructure project that the area hasn’t seen on this scale for decades,” said Reclamation Project Manager Hannah Schechter. “These facility upgrades ensure the historic district’s long-term viability and secure its legacy for generations to come and create new family memories.” - ktsm