Upper Tansil Dam
Upper Tansil Dam is a concrete dam located in Eddy County, New Mexico, built in 1893. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Tansil Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Tansil Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Carlsbad (local government). It impounds the Pecos River near Carlsbad.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 585 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 617 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18,000 square miles. Completed in 1893, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 02/26/2019.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Eddy |
| Nearest City | Carlsbad |
| River/Stream | Pecos River |
| Coordinates | 32.42390, -104.21970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 585 ft |
| Year Completed | 1893 (133 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 617 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 617 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18,000 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF CARLSBAD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/26/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00021 |
| Federal ID | NM00021 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |