Elephant Butte Irrigation District records,
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0235
Scope and Content
The Elephant Butte Irrigation District records currently in the RGHC span the years 1880-1981, with the bulk of the material covering 1904-1970. They document the scheduling and delivery of irrigation water, the construction and maintenance of dams and ditches for irrigation and flood control, the management of finances related to the responsibilities of the district, and the district's interaction with government agencies and water users in other areas.
The Elephant Butte Irrigation District has undergone changes in its organization over the years. As of May 2012 it is organized into the following departments: Executive; Hydrology; Water Records; Engineering; Maintenance; Operations; Tax; Accounting/Controller; Human Resources; Purchasing; and Computer Resources.
The arrangement of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District records in the RGHC follows the current organizational structure as closely as possible, with the following qualifications: any records from the Tax, Human Resources, Controller and Purchasing departments are all included in the General and Administration series; water records are included in the Operation series; and in the event that records come to the RGHC from the Computer Resources department, they will be housed in their own series.
With all of these considerations, these records have been arranged into the following nine series: Elephant Butte Water Users' Association; Executive; General and administration; Operations and water records; Maintenance; Hydrology; Engineering; Newspaper clippings; and Photographs. There are detailed notes at each series level, and at some sub-series levels.
The containers for this collection are organized differently than others in the Rio Grande Historical Collections due to its size and complexity. Boxes are labeled with numbers and letters corresponding to the series and subseries for improved physical control and integration of future accessions, with the structure "Series, Subseries, Box, Folder." (For example, a file labeled "02.B.02:3" would be in Series 1, Subseries B, Box 2, Folder 3.) Container lists include the series level scope and content notes in this finding aid as well as additional notes for many subseries. Several subseries are in turn subdivided into multiple categories.
The Elephant Butte Irrigation District has undergone changes in its organization over the years. As of May 2012 it is organized into the following departments: Executive; Hydrology; Water Records; Engineering; Maintenance; Operations; Tax; Accounting/Controller; Human Resources; Purchasing; and Computer Resources.
The arrangement of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District records in the RGHC follows the current organizational structure as closely as possible, with the following qualifications: any records from the Tax, Human Resources, Controller and Purchasing departments are all included in the General and Administration series; water records are included in the Operation series; and in the event that records come to the RGHC from the Computer Resources department, they will be housed in their own series.
With all of these considerations, these records have been arranged into the following nine series: Elephant Butte Water Users' Association; Executive; General and administration; Operations and water records; Maintenance; Hydrology; Engineering; Newspaper clippings; and Photographs. There are detailed notes at each series level, and at some sub-series levels.
The containers for this collection are organized differently than others in the Rio Grande Historical Collections due to its size and complexity. Boxes are labeled with numbers and letters corresponding to the series and subseries for improved physical control and integration of future accessions, with the structure "Series, Subseries, Box, Folder." (For example, a file labeled "02.B.02:3" would be in Series 1, Subseries B, Box 2, Folder 3.) Container lists include the series level scope and content notes in this finding aid as well as additional notes for many subseries. Several subseries are in turn subdivided into multiple categories.
Dates
- 1880 - 1981
- Majority of material found within 1904 - 1970
Language of Materials
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Research Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Organizational Sketch
In 1905 the United States Congress authorized the new United States Reclamation Service (later the Bureau of Reclamation) to begin the Rio Grande Project, which included the building of a dam at Elephant Butte. Plans for building a dam there had begun in 1888 with Colonel Anson Mills' proposal, followed by Dr. Nathan Boyd's Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company formed in 1893. With that company engaged in litigation, the Reclamation Act had passed in 1902, providing for the federally-controlled Rio Grande Project.
As part of the project's terms, the U.S. and Mexico agreed that 60,000 acre-feet of water would be sent annually to Juarez from the proposed reservoir. That year Mesilla Valley farmers formed the Elephant Butte Water Users Association to work with the Reclamation Service in securing their supply of irrigation water. Construction of the dam (at first named the Engle Dam) began in 1911 and it began storing water in 1915. It was finally completed in 1916.
With the dam built it became necessary to pay back the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the construction costs. The Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) was organized in 1918, replacing the old Elephant Butte Water Users Association. Formed to manage the repayment of the debt as well as to continue the mission of its predecessor, it operates as a quasi-municipality, with broader powers than a water users association.
In 1938, representatives from Colorado, New Mexico and Texas signed the Rio Grande Compact, which was signed into law by the U.S. Congress on May 31, 1939. The compact provided for an equitable sharing of river water between the three states. Water debts between the states have been the cause for litigation, notably the suit of New Mexico and Texas against Colorado in 1966-1967.
In the 1950s, EBID began drilling wells to supplement its surface water in a time of drought. Conflict with the Bureau of Reclamation followed as both entities debated whether ground water should be considered part of the surface water that was under the authority of the Rio Grande Project. Finally in 1977, a court decision disallowed the district from supplementing its water supply from wells.
In 1971 EBID paid off the construction debt and in 1978 took over the management of ditches and canals within the district from the Bureau of Reclamation.
As part of the project's terms, the U.S. and Mexico agreed that 60,000 acre-feet of water would be sent annually to Juarez from the proposed reservoir. That year Mesilla Valley farmers formed the Elephant Butte Water Users Association to work with the Reclamation Service in securing their supply of irrigation water. Construction of the dam (at first named the Engle Dam) began in 1911 and it began storing water in 1915. It was finally completed in 1916.
With the dam built it became necessary to pay back the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the construction costs. The Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) was organized in 1918, replacing the old Elephant Butte Water Users Association. Formed to manage the repayment of the debt as well as to continue the mission of its predecessor, it operates as a quasi-municipality, with broader powers than a water users association.
In 1938, representatives from Colorado, New Mexico and Texas signed the Rio Grande Compact, which was signed into law by the U.S. Congress on May 31, 1939. The compact provided for an equitable sharing of river water between the three states. Water debts between the states have been the cause for litigation, notably the suit of New Mexico and Texas against Colorado in 1966-1967.
In the 1950s, EBID began drilling wells to supplement its surface water in a time of drought. Conflict with the Bureau of Reclamation followed as both entities debated whether ground water should be considered part of the surface water that was under the authority of the Rio Grande Project. Finally in 1977, a court decision disallowed the district from supplementing its water supply from wells.
In 1971 EBID paid off the construction debt and in 1978 took over the management of ditches and canals within the district from the Bureau of Reclamation.
- 1888
- Col. Anson Mills recommended erecting a dam above El Paso to provide water for El Paso - Juarez Valley.
- 1893
- Dr. Nathan Boyd organized the Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company. The company purposed to build a dam at Engle, New Mexico (Elephant Butte) to serve southern New Mexico's irrigation needs.
- 1896
- Secretary of the Interior David Francis issued a directive not to grant a right-of-way above the site of the international dam on the Rio Grande. This embargo remained in effect until rescinded by Secretary of the Interior Herbert Work in 1925.
- 1898-1909
- Time period covering litigation involving Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Company.
- 1902
- U.S. Congress passed the Reclamation Act of 1902
- 1904
- The U.S. Reclamation Service, pushed by the Nov. State Department, proposed to build the Rio Grande Project (Elephant Butte Dam). The project's jurisdiction covered the waters of the Rio Grande from southern New Mexico, to El Paso and Fort Quitman, Texas, to Mexico.
- 1905
- An agreement for Rio Grande water rights was drawn up by delegates of New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.
- 1905
- The Territorial Legislature of New Mexico passed a law providing for the creation of a water users' association within New Mexico. This law met the federal requirements to establish local water users' associations on U.S. Reclamation projects.
- 1906 Jan. 27
- The U.S. Reclamation Service confirmed the Rio Grande Project in New Mexico.
- 1906 May 21
- A convention was held on this date between the U.S. and Mexico determining that 60,000 acrefeet of water would be sent annually to Juarez from the proposed reservoir at Elephant Butte.
- 1906 May 21
- The significance of the Rio Grande Compact was that it created an alliance between EBID and El Paso Water Improvement District. Water deliveries for both EBID and El Paso Water Improvement District came from the Elephant Butte Reservior thus placing them against water districts to the north. From this point on friction between EBID and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District in Albuquerque would grow.
- 1937
- EBID and the El Paso Water Improvement District surrendered their rights to the electrical power production at the dam to the U.S. for a reduction of payment to the sum of $2,410,000.
- 1938
- Rectification of the Rio Grande below Caballo Dam due to flooding in Mexico.
- 1950-1970
- Period of conflict over the maintenance of the Elephant Butte Reservoir as a recreation pool or as a source of water for irrigation.
- 1950
- EBID turned to private drilling of wells to supplement surface water supply.
- 1971
- Final payment made by EBID District for building of the Elephant Butte Reservior.
- 1974-1977
- Litigation against EBID from people with private wells. Decision disallowed EBID to supplement surface water with well water.
- 1978
- EBID was exempt from following 160-acre limitation as set forth by the Reclamation Act of 1902 by Secretary of the Interior.
- 1979
- EBID assumed control over the operation and maintenance of ditches and canals within its district. However, the Bureau of Reclamation remained in charge of the reservoir, dam and diversion dams. In addition, the Bureau of Reclamation continued to control the apportionment of water between New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.
Extent
193.8 linear feet (605 boxes, 66 map tubes), 12 map drawers
Abstract
Organized in 1918 after the Elephant Butte Dam was built, EBID replaced the Elephant Butte Water Users Association as a means to manage water rights and pay off the debt of the dam's construction to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The records here come from the district's executive operations as well as its main functions, in forms ranging from small cards to large maps.
Acquisition
- RG 84-110
- RG 96-019
- RG 98-222
- RG 2006-010
- RG 2006-025
- Title
- Guide to the Elephant Butte Irrigation District records, 1880-1981
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Initally processed in 1985 by John W. Grassham, Darlis A. Miller, and Ira G. Clark; Reprocessed 2008-2012 by Katelyn Attanasio, Cynthia Renteria, Jennifer Chavez, Randall Robbins, Linday Selters, and Charles Stanford
- Date
- 2004
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- October 29, 2014: This electronic finding aid was updated with the most current version of the finding aid, including extensive revision to overall arrangement and content
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository