Chaves County’s desert plains terrain places most of the county in FEMA Zone X, the low-risk flood zone designation. The exception is the waterway network running through Roswell, where the Pecos River and two historic spring-fed rivers carry FEMA Zone AE floodplain designations. Property owners near these waterways may need elevation certificates for flood insurance or lender compliance. Elevation certificates in Chaves County cost $350 to $650 in 2026.
Pecos River Flood Zone Through Roswell
The Pecos River runs north to south through the eastern portion of Chaves County, passing through the Roswell area before continuing south toward Eddy County. The Pecos River corridor through Roswell has FEMA Zone AE flood zone designations. Zone AE is FEMA’s designation for the Special Flood Hazard Area with a 1 percent annual chance of flooding. Properties in Zone AE financed by a federally backed mortgage are required to carry flood insurance, and flood insurance requires an elevation certificate to calculate the annual premium.
The Pecos River in Chaves County has historically carried significant water during high flow periods from spring snowmelt in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north. Properties along the Pecos corridor near Roswell should treat Zone AE designations as a real risk factor, not merely a regulatory checkbox.
North Spring River and South Spring River
Two spring-fed waterways, the North Spring River and the South Spring River, historically flowed through the Roswell area sourced from artesian springs in the Roswell basin. These rivers run through the Roswell city area before joining the Pecos River system. FEMA flood maps designate portions of these spring river corridors as flood zones.
Properties adjacent to the North Spring River or South Spring River in central and eastern Roswell may be in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Homebuyers near either spring river should confirm the flood zone designation for the specific parcel before closing. Lenders will flag Zone AE properties during the underwriting process.
Irrigated Agricultural Land Along the Pecos
The Pecos River valley supports dairy farms, pecan orchards, and irrigated row crop agriculture in communities including Hagerman, Lake Arthur, and Dexter, south of Roswell. Agricultural properties along the Pecos in these communities may have Zone AE designations along the river frontage. Farm loan lenders and the USDA Farm Service Agency may require flood zone documentation for agricultural parcels in the Pecos River floodplain.
Desert Plains Zone X
The rolling desert plains west and south of the Pecos valley covering much of Chaves County’s land area are designated Zone X, indicating minimal flood risk. These areas have no significant rivers and minimal elevation change, resulting in low natural flood hazard. Property owners in Zone X areas generally do not need elevation certificates unless a specific lender or loan type triggers the requirement.
What the Certificate Documents
A Licensed Professional Surveyor visits the property and measures the lowest floor elevation using the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The measurement is compared to the Base Flood Elevation on the current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map and recorded on FEMA Form 086-0-33. Only a licensed Professional Surveyor, licensed engineer, or architect can complete a FEMA-accepted elevation certificate in New Mexico. Every surveyor in our New Mexico directory holds an active license from the New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors.
To find an elevation certificate surveyor in Chaves County, browse our directory. Every surveyor in our New Mexico directory is sourced from state licensing records.