Overview
Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located north of Truth or Consequences along the shore of Elephant Butte Reservoir in Sierra County. The park is the largest state park in New Mexico and surrounds the state's largest reservoir. The reservoir, created in 1916 across the Rio Grande, is long with more than of shoreline. "The dam serves as a way to ease flooding, control irrigation and provide electricity."
Description
Elephant Butte Dam is named after a rock formation resembling an elephant. There are 3 developed camps on the lake, with over 200 camping and picnicking sites, concession-operated marinas, and stores. Recreation at Elephant Butte Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico State Parks under agreement with the United States Bureau of Reclamation.
History
"Talk of a dam began in the 1880s after farmers in southern New Mexico, Texas and Mexico began to complain that they were not receiving their fair share of water. A legal battle over the water and where the dam should be built delayed its construction.... The dam would get a few more names before the elephant took up permanent residence." A stegomastodon fossil was discovered at the park in June 2014.
See also
* List of New Mexico state parks
External links
*Elephant Butte Lake State Park NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department - State Parks Division *Elephant Butte Lake State Park Map NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department - State Parks Division