Mariposa Dam
Mariposa Dam is an earth dam located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mariposa Dam
The primary purpose of Mariposa 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 City Of Albuquerque (local government). It impounds the Boca Negra Arroyos near Albuquerque.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 5,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 44 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 670 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 09/02/2020.
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 | Bernalillo |
| Nearest City | Albuquerque |
| River/Stream | Boca Negra Arroyos |
| Coordinates | 35.15640, -106.69470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 670 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 670 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/02/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00473 |
| Federal ID | NM00473 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |