Nambe Falls Dam
Nambe Falls Dam is a concrete dam located in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nambe Falls Dam
The primary purpose of Nambe Falls Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Rio Nambe River near Nambe Pueblo.
The dam stands 150 feet tall and stretches 993 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,601 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 33 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/14/2021.
At 150 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Santa Fe |
| Nearest City | Nambe Pueblo |
| River/Stream | Rio Nambe River |
| Coordinates | 35.84590, -105.90590 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 150 ft |
| Dam Height | 150 ft |
| Dam Length | 993 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,601 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,601 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,729 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 33 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00412 |
| Federal ID | NM00412 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |