Lake Mescalero
Lake Mescalero is an earth dam located in Otero County, New Mexico, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Mescalero
The primary purpose of Lake Mescalero is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Carrizo Creek near Hollywood.
The dam stands 93 feet tall and stretches 1,335 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 104 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2023.
At 93 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Otero |
| Nearest City | Hollywood |
| River/Stream | Carrizo Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.29970, -105.68370 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,335 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,190 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 26,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00161 |
| Federal ID | NM00161 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |