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Tortugas Arroyo Watershed – Site (Dam) 1

Tortugas Arroyo Watershed – Site (Dam) 1

Sponsor: Elephant Butte Irrigation District, New Mexico

Current Phase of the Project: Planning Phase

Site 1 in the Tortugas Arroyos Watershed of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, will be included in an NRCS funded watershed rehabilitation partnership project.  Currently starting the planning/NEPA phase, the dam provides protection against flooding to about 2,200 acres of irrigated cropland and New Mexico State University – Main Campus, with a student population of approximately 14,000 and another 1000 who live, study and work downstream.  Additionally, the dam protects two interstate highways, that support travel for many vehicles daily.  Among other critical infrastructure, the dam also protects power lines, water lines, fiber optic cables and the railroad.  Annually the rehabilitation project is expected to provide approximately $80,000 of flood damage reduction benefits.

Public Meeting

  • Tortugas Arroyo Response to Public Comments

Tortugas Response to Public Comment (PDF) (2.88 MB)

Agency and Stakeholder Scoping Meeting

  • USDA-NRCS and Elephant Butte Irrigation District will hold a virtual Agency/Stakeholder Scoping Meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, providing information on the Rehab Program project specifics, as well as an opportunity to provide input on the study. Letters were sent out providing a link to the virtual meeting.
Tortugas Site 1 Agency & Stakeholder Scoping Meeting Presentation Slides.pptx (35.82 MB)
Tortugas Scoping Comment Package.pdf (1.02 MB)
Tortugas Scoping Report.pdf (14.36 MB)

Alternative Finalization Public Meeting

The USDA-NRCS and Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID), in cooperation with New Mexico State University, will be holding an in-person/virtual public meeting on Thursday, August 20th, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM at the Elephant Butte Irrigation District Office. The goal of the meeting will be to provide an update on the progress of work, explain alternatives considered, present the preferred alternative, and obtain feedback from meeting attendees. The Elephant Butte Irrigation District Office is located at 530 South Melendres Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005. For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual option is provided below. Written public comments will be collected during the meeting. For those who cannot attend the meeting, written comments may also be submitted via email to Merceidez.fabok@usda.gov or by mailing comments to USDA NRCS New Mexico, Attention Merceidez Fabok, 100 Sun Avenue Northeast, Suite 602, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109-3434. Please note that all comments must be postmarked by Saturday, September 19th, 2026, to be considered. Details about the meeting can be found below:

 

In-Person Public Alternatives Finalization Meeting Option

Elephant Butte Irrigation District Office

530 South Melendres Street

Las Cruces, NM 88005 

Virtual Public Alternatives Finalization Meeting Option

Link: https://bit.ly/TortugasAug2026

Meeting ID: 248 738 008 960 341 

Passcode: bb7tG3je

Phone #: 469-770-0416 followed by 887282316#

Stakeholder Notice.pdf (737.66 KB)
Landowner Notice.pdf (685.91 KB)