Cimarroncito Dam
Cimarroncito Dam is an earth dam located in Colfax County, New Mexico, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cimarroncito Dam
The primary purpose of Cimarroncito 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 Cimarron (local government). It impounds the Cimarroncito Creek near Unincorporated Resident.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 189 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 08/27/2020.
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 | Colfax |
| Nearest City | Unincorporated Resident |
| River/Stream | Cimarroncito Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.48141, -105.05463 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 189 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 189 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 88 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,192 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF CIMARRON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00365 |
| Federal ID | NM00365 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |