Alto Lake Dam
Alto Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lincoln County, New Mexico, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Alto Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Alto Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Ruidoso (local government). It impounds the Eagle Creek near Ruidoso.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 362 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 449 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/2019.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Lincoln |
| Nearest City | Ruidoso |
| River/Stream | Eagle Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.39610, -105.67140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 362 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 449 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 449 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 299 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,827 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00180 |
| Federal ID | NM00180 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |