Farmers in southern New Mexico are receiving a higher amount of a water allotment than three years ago but less than a third of their normal allotment.
KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas, reports the Elephant Butte Irrigation District told farmers this week they're scheduled to receive 10 inches of water per acre of farmland this year.
That's higher than the three-and-a-half inches in 2013, but much less than the three feet of water that's considered a full allotment.
A hydrologist credits the wetter winter, and more water shed for the increase this year, but says it hasn't reached its full potential.
Officials say they'll begin releasing water from the Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs to farmers in Mesilla and the upper valley and in April and May.
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