New Mexico’s largest reservoir plunges to just 1.4% full
Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico’s largest reservoir, plunged to just 1.4 percent capacity in July 2026 after years of extreme drought and record early snowmelt. The dramatic decline exposed long-submerged debris and underscored the growing strain on Rio Grande water supplies used by farms in New Mexico and Texas.
New Mexico's largest reservoir, Elephant Butte, has shrunk to just 1.4% of its capacity, its lowest level since 1971. This stark contrast to its near-full state in 1994 highlights the impact of prolonged drought on the region. The arid landscape, surrounded by the Rio Grande, supports various crops, but the persistent dry conditions have put a strain on water supplies.
NASA's Western Water Action Office has been working on several projects to provide better information for water managers. These include a model that uses NASA satellite data to monitor soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and more. Another project combines satellite measurements with ground-based observations to study how groundwater pumping affects the Rio Grande's flow.
NASA scientists are also involved in a federal study to better understand the region's water needs and create data-driven tools for managing water resources.
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