Sebastian Martin Site 6 Dam
Sebastian Martin Site 6 Dam is an earth dam located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sebastian Martin Site 6 Dam
The primary purpose of Sebastian Martin Site 6 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Upper Rio Grande Watershed District (local government). It impounds the Estaca Arroyo near Espanola.
The dam stands 93 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,022 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/29/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Rio Arriba |
| Nearest City | Espanola |
| River/Stream | Estaca Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 36.11270, -106.06020 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,022 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,022 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,439 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | UPPER RIO GRANDE WATERSHED DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/29/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00234 |
| Federal ID | NM00234 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |