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Elephant Butte Reservoir water level

Reservoir, New Mexico, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Surface elevation

4,296.05ft Up 0.88 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
95,128 acre‑ft
4,300 4,350 4,400

History

4,3004,3504,400ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 174,3004,3504,400ftOct 12Oct 14Oct 17
4,3004,3504,400ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 10Oct 174,3004,3504,400ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 17
4,3004,3504,400ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20264,3004,3504,400ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
4,2754,3004,3254,350ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20264,2754,3004,3254,350ftOct 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
4,3004,3504,400ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20264,3004,3504,400ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

At 4,296.05 ft, Elephant Butte Reservoir is below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 29.79 ft below the median of 4,325.84 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 4,292.21 ft (+3.84 ft).

The water is rising: up 0.88 ft over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4,276.35 ft and 4,296.05 ft.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.

Largest reservoir in New Mexico, on the Rio Grande.

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
4,325.84 ft29.79 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
4,295.60 ft – 4,398.55 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year
4,292.21 ft+3.84 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
4,276.35 ft – 4,296.05 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
4,275.13 ft – 4,319.27 ft

Swimming and boating at Elephant Butte Reservoir

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

18 Sun 72° 47° – Wind 9 mph
19 Mon 65° 55° 0.43 in, 38% Wind 10 mph
20 Tue 78° 56° 0.06 in, 38% Wind 14 mph
21 Wed 78° 63° 0.06 in, 32% Wind 6 mph
22 Thu 69° 60° 0.28 in, 66% Wind 18 mph
23 Fri 76° 57° 0.35 in, 66% Wind 16 mph
24 Sat 74° 61° 0.72 in, 27% Wind 10 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:16 AM Sunset 06:33 PM Daylight 11 hr, 17 min First quarter 52%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Rio Grande below Elephant Butte DamRiver gauge, Rio Grande 0.4 cfs Very low +0.1 cfs 3.6 mi
Rio Grande at Narrows in Elephant Butte ReservoirRiver gauge, Rio Grande 133 cfs Normal −10.0 cfs 13 mi
Caballo ReservoirReservoir 4,138.85 ft Normal 20 mi
Rio Grande Floodway at San MarcialRiver gauge, Rio Grande Floodway 12.53 ft Below flood stage ±0 35 mi
Rio Grande Conveyance Channel at San MarcialRiver gauge, Rio Grande Conveyance Channel 162 cfs Normal −9.0 cfs 36 mi

Questions and answers

How does Elephant Butte Reservoir compare with last year?

It is 3.84 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4,292.21 ft.

What is a normal level for Elephant Butte Reservoir in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4,325.84 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4,295.60 ft and 4,398.55 ft, based on 36 years of records.

Is Elephant Butte Reservoir really 4,296.05 ft deep?

No. 4,296.05 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Elephant Butte Reservoir today?

On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 4,296.05 ft. Up 0.88 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Elephant Butte Reservoir rising or falling?

Up 0.88 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Elephant Butte Reservoir normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes a new reading once a day. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Station code
usbr:323 (Agency page)
Coordinates
33.20000, -107.20000 (WGS84)
Update interval
once a day
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 4,296.05 ft 2026-10-17 07:00 Provisional
Water stored 95,128 acre‑ft 2026-10-17 07:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Elephant Butte Reservoir (usbr:323). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-mexico/elephant-butte-reservoir

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer