By KRWG News
New Mexico – The Elephant Butte Irrigation District plans to shut off irrigation water at a month earlier than usual, and blames a dry summer and less runoff from snow last winter.
The district, which usually releases irrigation water until late September or into October, will end the season Aug. 28 this year.
Irrigation district manager Gary Esslinger says rains that typically come in July and August have not arrived, and water demand has remained high. In addition, temperatures have remained hot.
He says the district is running out of water.
But Esslinger says the irrigation season could be extended if the area gets rain over the next two weeks and demand drops.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.