Webster Dam
Webster Dam is an earth dam located in Colfax County, New Mexico, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Webster Dam
The primary purpose of Webster Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Boys Scouts Of America Inc Philmont Scout Ranch (private). It impounds the Nash Gulch near Unincorporated Resident.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 2,460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1909, 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. 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 12/14/2020.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Colfax |
| Nearest City | Unincorporated Resident |
| River/Stream | Nash Gulch |
| Coordinates | 36.48253, -105.01102 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 712 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,050 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BOYS SCOUTS OF AMERICA INC PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00295 |
| Federal ID | NM00295 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |