Lower Nielson Retarding Dam
Lower Nielson Retarding Dam is an earth dam located in Cibola County, New Mexico, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lower Nielson Retarding Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Nielson Retarding 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 Bluewater Water & Sanitation District (local government). It impounds the Bluewater Creek-tr near Bluewater.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 11/05/2020.
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 | Cibola |
| Nearest City | Bluewater |
| River/Stream | Bluewater Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 35.25200, -107.98890 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BLUEWATER WATER & SANITATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00489 |
| Federal ID | NM00489 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |