1. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
0
Elephant Butte Irrigation District records,
1883-1981
(Bulk 1904-1970)
Finding guide for
Manuscript Collection
0235
in the
Rio Grande Historical Collections
Archives and Special Collections
New Mexico State University Library
MSC 3475
P.O. Box 30006
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Telephone: (505) 646-3839
Fax: (505) 646-7477
Email: archives@lib.nmsu.edu
URL: http://archives.nmsu.edu
2. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
1
Overview of Collection
Creator: Elephant Butte Irrigation District.
Title: Elephant Butte Irrigation District records, 1883-1981 (Bulk 1904-1970).
Quantity: 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.
Access and Use
Open. All materials in this collection are available for research under supervised conditions in
the Research Room.
Copyright. Copyrights associated with materials in this collection have not been transferred to
New Mexico State University.
Preferred Citation
Elephant Butte Irrigation District records. Ms 0235. New Mexico State University Library,
Archives and Special Collections Department.
Acquisition
RG84-110
RG96-019
RG98-222
RG2006-010
RG2006-025
Processing
1985 John W. Grassham, Darlis A. Miller and Ira G. Clark.
2008-2012 Katelyn Attanasio, Cynthia Renteria, Jennifer Chavez, Randall Robbins, Linday
Selters and Charles Stanford.
RelatedMaterials
Thomas G. Morris papers. Ms 0031. New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Acequia De Nuestra Señora De Belen Records. Ms 0057. New Mexico State University
Library, Archives and Special Collections Department.
William F. Turney records. Ms 0065. New Mexico State University Library, Archives and
Special Collections Department.
3. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
2
Herbert W. Yeo papers. Ms 0094. New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Mayfield Community Ditch Group records. Ms 0103. New Mexico State University Library,
Archives and Special Collections Department.
Las Cruces Flood Control Report, 1926. Ms 0107. New Mexico State University Library,
Archives and Special Collections Department.
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District records. Ms 0252. New Mexico State University
Library, Archives and Special Collections Department.
La Luz Community Ditch records. Ms 0325. New Mexico State University Library, Archives
and Special Collections Department.
John W. Clark papers (UA). New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Morris Evans papers (UA). New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Subject Headings
Elephant Butte Irrigation District – Archives.
Elephant Butte Dam.
Irrigation – New Mexico – History.
Rio Grande.
Rio Grande Project.
Bureau of Reclamation – History.
Water Rights – New Mexico.
4. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
3
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.
More in-depth treatment of the history of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Elephant
Butte Irrigation District can be found on the websites for EBID: http://www.ebid-
nm.org/general/About_EBID/index.shtml
-and the bureau of Reclamation:
http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/riograndeh.html#Construction%20History
5. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
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Scope and Content Note
The Elephant Butte Irrigation District records currently in the RGHC span the years 1906-
1969. 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
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
series and subseries:
Elephant Butte Water Users' Association (01), 1904-1919
Executive (02), 1906-1971
Minutes (02-A), 1958-1970
Office files (02-B), 1906-1971
Correspondence files (02-C), 1918-1980
Rio Grande Compact files (02-D), 1920-1970
Legislation files (02-E), 1919-1967
General politics files (02-F), 1921-1968
Litigation files (02-G), 1906-1969
Outside projects and agencies files (02-H), 1923-1963
Takeover files (02-I), 1915, 1918, 1951-1969
Ground water files (02-J), 1946-1964
Repayment files (02-K), 1922-1971
General and administration (03), 1916-1971
Tax files (03-A), 1919-1971
Accounting/Controller (03-B), 1916-1971
Human resources (03-C), 1959-1970
Purchasing (03-D), ca. 1947-1979
Operations and water records (04), 1939-1970
6. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
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Water orders (04-A), 1969
Water statements (04-B), 1939-1970
Applications for water service (04-C), 1922-1970
Maintenance (05), 1931-1974
Flood control (05-A), 1957-1973
Rio Grande watershed (05-B), 1950-1960
Tortugas Arroyo watershed (05-C), 1956-1962
Doña Ana Arroyo watershed (05-D), 1957-1969
Fillmore Arroyo watershed (05-E), 1955-1963
Watersheds, various (05-F), 1957-1970
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (05-G), 1954-1966
General maintenance (05-H), 1931-1974
Hydrology (06), 1880-1981
General hydrographic data (06-A), 1880-1968
Water quality/environmental monitoring (06-B), 1942-1973
Water measurement/flow data collection (06-C), 1883-1981
Water forecasts (06-D), 1945-1972
Engineering (07),
Land records (07-A)
Special use permits (07-B)
Stream adjudication (07-C)
Rights-of-way (07-D)
Maps (07-E), 1885, 1908-1969
Construction design and review (07-F)
Newspaper clippings (08)
Photographs (09), 1930-1969
There are detailed notes at each series level.
The containers for this collection are organized differently than others in the RGHC due
to its size and complexity. Boxes are assigned alphanumeric codes corresponding to the series
and subseries for improved physical control and integration of future accessions. Container lists
for each series are linked from this document as separate documents due to their large sizes.
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.
7. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
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Series List
Series: Elephant Butte Water Users’ Association (01), 1904-1919
The water users’ association was formed in 1905 in response to the Bureau of Reclamation’s
creation of the Rio Grande Project, to ensure an adequate and steady supply of irrigation water to
farmers within the project’s boundaries. These records include the articles of incorporation,
subscriptions and contracts, and community ditch records.
See here for the container list.
Series: Executive (02), 1906-1971
This series covers the actions and decisions of the Board of Directors and the Treasurer-
Manager. It includes the old office and correspondence files and documentation of the district’s
dealings with government at various levels.
Many of these files were organized before the district’s current division of departments was
developed. They are further divided into the following subseries:
Minutes (02-A), 1958-1970
Office files (02-B), 1906-1971
Correspondence files (02-C), 1918-1980
Rio Grande Compact files (02-D), 1920-1970
Legislation files (02-E), 1919-1967
General politics files (02-F), 1921-1968
Litigation files (02-G), 1906-1969
Outside projects and agencies files (02-H), 1923-1963
Takeover files (02-I), 1915, 1918, 1951-1969
Ground water files (02-J), 1946-1964
Repayment files (02-K), 1922-1971
See here for the container list.
Series: General and administration (03), 1916-1971
This series contains financial and tax records. It is divided into the following subseries:
Tax files (03-A), 1919-1971
Accounting/Controller (03-B), 1916-1971
Human resources (03-C), 1959-1970
Purchasing (03-D), ca. 1947-1979
See here for the container list.
Series: Operations and Water Records (04), 1939-1970
The operations department is in charge of ordering and scheduling water. This series
includes water records and will receive accessions from the current Water Records Department.
This series is divided into the following subseries:
Water orders (04-A), 1969
Water statements (04-B), 1939-1970
Applications for water service (04-C), 1922-1970
See here for the container list.
8. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
7
Series: Maintenance (05), 1931-1974
The Maintenance department maintains the canals, laterals and ditches owned and used by
EBID to deliver water. This series is divided into the following subseries:
Flood control (05-A), 1957-1973
Rio Grande watershed (05-B), 1950-1960
Tortugas Arroyo watershed (05-C), 1956-1962
Doña Ana Arroyo watershed (05-D), 1957-1969
Fillmore Arroyo watershed (05-E), 1955-1963
Watersheds, various (05-F), 1957-1970
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (05-G), 1954-1966
General maintenance (05-H), 1931-1974
See here for the container list.
Series: Hydrology (06), 1880-1981
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. A primary duty of the Hydrology Department
is to monitor the quality of water in the river, canals and drains. This series is divided into the
following subseries:
General hydrographic data (06-A), 1880-1968
Water quality/environmental monitoring (06-B), 1942-1973
Water measurement/flow data collection (06-C), 1883-1981
Water forecasts (06-D), 1945-1972
See here for the container list.
Series: Engineering (07),
Engineering is responsible for any issues dealing with water-righted lands. This department
works closely with the State Engineer’s office to help water-righted owners with any water rights
under adjudication in the Lower Rio Grande Stream Adjudication. This series is divided into the
following subseries:
Land records (07-A)
Special use permits (07-B)
Stream adjudication (07-C)
Rights-of-way (07-D)
Maps (07-E), 1885, 1908-1969
Construction design and review (07-F)
See here for the container list.
Series: Newspaper clippings (08),
This series covers newspapers clippings that relate to EBID. These clippings range from the
early 1930s to the late 1960s. These include clippings collected by the district itself as well as
news articles collected by students who processed the records in the RGHC during the autumn of
2008.
See here for the container list.
9. NMSU Library/Archives & Special Collections Collection Name/Ms#
8
Series: Photographs (09), 1930-1969
This series contains photographs that depict the construction of the Elephant Butte Dam
as well as other images of surrounding areas. Many of the photographs are identified as coming
from Herbert Yeo, although they do not match the photographs in the reports he wrote while
working as State Engineer (see Ms 0094 Herbert W. Yeo papers).
See here for the container list.
