ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s a favorite place to spend Memorial Day weekend in New Mexico. On Friday, thousands have made their way to Elephant Butte Lake, but after one of the driest winters on record, water levels are low.
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“I got my two jet skis out here; my son is coming with a big ol’ boat, so we’ll have fun,” said David Tapia, a visitor at the lake this weekend.
“Celebrating Memorial Day weekend, and hang out with friends and family,” said Aidan Hust, another visitor this weekend.
The state park attracts anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 visitors during the Memorial Day weekend, but this year there is a lot less water for visitors to play in. “Sometimes it sucks when we come and the water levels are low,” said Gio Valesquez, another guest.
According to a recent water report, as of Friday, Elephant Butte Lake is a little more than 13% full. That’s more than 10% less water than this time last year, when it was almost 25% full. The surface area is down to around 9,000 acres, compared to almost 13,000 last year. Visitors know how much the levels can change from year to year. “In 1998, the water was going over the spillway, when my son graduated from high school,” Tapia said.
Visitors KRQE News 13 spoke to at the park on Friday said they haven’t had trouble getting jet skis or boats into the water, even with the levels. One guest even said the park has taken steps to make it easier for visitors to get out on the water. “In fact, they moved the docks,” Tapia added.
For some guests, they’re just happy to get out and enjoy the outdoors with people they love. “I love everything about it,” said Valesquez. “I love just getting away from the house. Getting away from the city, exploring something new.”
“I’m actually super excited to go on the jet ski, go fishing, go tubing, go swimming,” Hust explained. It’s going to be real fun.”
