Federal officials say the Rio Grande will start flowing through southern New Mexico on Monday as releases from two reservoirs begin, marking the start of the irrigation season.
The Bureau of Reclamation says an initial release of water from Caballo Reservoir will begin at 6 a.m. Monday and be increased on May 26.
Releases from Elephant Butte Reservoir also begin Monday morning, and the bureau says that means what is now a dry river between the two reservoirs will be flooded.
Rio Grande Project water is used to irrigate lands in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in southern New Mexico and in the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 in west Texas and Mexico.
Project water is also used for municipal and industrial purposes by El Paso, Texas.
