the embudo stream gauging station was established as part of the united states geologic survey irrigation survey, a project to map water basins and collect streamflow data in an effort to make informed irrigation infrastructure decisions, directed by clarence dutton. while dutton was able to locate topographers and irrigation engineers for the survey, he was not able to locate hydrographers, so a training camp was established at embudo, new mexico. engineers, including camp director frederick h.newell, first arrived in december 1888. while canvas tents and cots were purchased, the unanticipated cold of the higher elevation site led to the use of shallow trenches with blankets rather than cots and small cave dug in a nearby hillside for sleeping.