Avalon Dam
Avalon Dam is an earth dam located in Eddy County, New Mexico, built in 1907. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Avalon Dam
The primary purpose of Avalon Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Pecos River near Carlsbad.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 1,025 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,850 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17,816 square miles. Completed in 1907, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/17/2022.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Mexico dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Eddy |
| Nearest City | Carlsbad |
| River/Stream | Pecos River |
| Coordinates | 32.49200, -104.25280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,025 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,334 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,850 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17,816 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 34,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00132 |
| Federal ID | NM00132 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |