To resolve those problems, plans were drafted up for a large storage dam at Elephant Butte, about downstream of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first to propose a dam for the area were Peter E. Kern, E.V. Berrien, John Campbell, R.M. Loomis and Edward Roberts. They had camped in the area thad the dam is now; although Kern encouraged the others to consider building a dam there, its construction was delayed by legal battles relating to the final site and to water rights.