Jack Herrera

Stories

New Mexico's largest reservoir falls to lowest level in 55 years

As of September 2026: Spent a year traveling the Rio Grande from source to delta

Boat ramps at Elephant Butte Lake State Park sit buried in sediment. In late July the lake dropped to 1.4 percent of capacity, its lowest level since 1971.

Updated Sep 6

Notable Quotes

In huge stretches, hundreds of miles of stretches along this river, it's already running dry.

from New Mexico's largest reservoir falls to lowest level in 55 years · Updated Sep 6

This is not a problem that's a decade off. This is happening right now.

from New Mexico's largest reservoir falls to lowest level in 55 years · Updated Sep 6