Raymac Detention Dam

About Raymac Detention Dam

The primary purpose of Raymac Detention 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 Albuquerque Metro Arroyo Flood Control Authority (local government). It impounds the Raymac Arroyo near Albuquerque.

The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,873 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 249 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1989, the structure is 37 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/05/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.

At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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.

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