Hydrology

The Hydrology Department was developed by the Board of Directors for the District to keep accurate accounting of on-farm deliveries as well as the District’s main canal diversions, drains, spillways, water quality and groundwater. 

The Elephant Butte Irrigation District has begun to lay the foundation down for future technologies as well. You can now access your account online. A project that is now under way will also allow you to see and download your own irrigations as they happen as well as view any important weather changes --- all parts of our new WRIS (Water Information System), which merges radio telemetry and database management software.

James Narvaez , Hydrology Director, is available to answer any questions you might have about the District’s hydrology such as  Water Quality/Environmental Monitoring and Water Measurement/Flow Data Collection.

A primary duty of the Hydrology Department is to monitor the quality of water in the river, canals and drains. The main parameters sampled for are EC, PH and DO. We also ensure compliance with the ever-changing water quality standards and requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This department handles the water allotment accounting and forecasts for the Elephant Butte Irrigation District’s account using various meters and structures designed by our District Engineer. Flow data for all District waterways is collected, monitored, and analyzed. Our flow data consists of daily, monthly and yearly reports of our canals, spillways, drains, the Rio Grande and ground water. In some cases the data dates back to the 1930s.

On this web site you will also be able to access data collected by our weather stations located in key areas of the District. These stations will be effective in planning irrigations and preparing for storms. Flow and water quality data is monitored in real time and is available via this web site under the Water Resource Information System.