Irrigation Season 2022 Announcement

Elephant Butte Irrigation District’s Board of Directors has set the official release and flat rate schedule for the 2022 irrigation season, during a special board meeting April 21, 2022.  An allotment of 5” has been approved by the Board as of the date of this announcement. The Board has signaled that it may increase the allotment if water is available in Project storage, however, if that occurs it will only be a minor increase and it will happen at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on May 18, 2022. The Board does not anticipate approving any additional allotment increases after the irrigation season starts. Please refer to future announcements and the EBID website www.ebid-nm.org for important information updates on the 2022 Irrigation Season.

The District will be conducting their annual Growers Meetings according to the following schedule. These meetings are open to the public and all irrigators are encouraged to attend. Information will be shared about the 2022 irrigation season outlook and the ways EBID is continuing to adapt to challenging drought.

Growers meetings are scheduled as follows:

Hatch Area:

Monday, May 2, 2022  8:00 - 10:00 AM

Hatch Community Center

837 W Hall Street, Hatch, NM 87937

Central Area:

Monday, May 2, 2022   1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Grapevine Event Center

3900 W. Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces, NM  88007

South Area:

Tuesday, May 3, 2022  1:30  – 3:30 PM

Anthony Country Club

2100 W. O’Hara Road, Anthony, NM  88021

Farm Rate Diversion / Orders / Release Dates:

All areas of the EBID will be open to farm rate members to place their water orders on May 23, 2022. The official water release date will then occur on June 1, 2022.

Farm Rate Members can consult their Water Growers Information Sheet for instructions on how to order water. Water orders can be placed by calling the EBID Water Records Department at 575-524-8003 Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Water orders can also be placed online by visiting the farmer services tab on the EBID website. Through this portal farmers can manage their account, including placing water orders, transferring water orders, and viewing their live balances. Accounts and instruction sheets can also be requested via email at waterrecords@ebid-nm.org. 

Flat Rate Schedule

Flat Rate Accounts are accounts with less than two water righted acres of land within EBID boundaries and whose accounts are paid in full.  The 2022 Flat Rate Irrigation Weekend will be JUNE 18t and Flat Rate accounts may water ONLY ONCE during the scheduled flat rate weekend from midnight Friday night until midnight Sunday night.

The District’s Board of Directors continues to closely monitor all data relevant to the irrigation season, including spring runoff, climate trend predictions, and reservoir storage levels. To date the climate outlook models continue to predict dryer and hotter than typical conditions. Agricultural producers should plan for a short water year. District Manager Gary Esslinger, skilled staff and employees, as well as consultants confer with the Board to evaluate the irrigation situation throughout the season.

EBID will share updates as they become available. For updated information throughout the season visit the EBID website at www.ebid-nm.org or follow them on FaceBook. Contact EBID at 575-524-8003 with any of your questions.

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