Brantley Dam
Brantley Dam is a concrete dam located in Eddy County, New Mexico, built in 1989. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Brantley Dam
The primary purpose of Brantley 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Pecos River near Carlsbad.
The dam stands 144 feet tall and stretches 20,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39,301 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 966,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17,650 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/16/2022.
At 144 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 | Eddy |
| Nearest City | Carlsbad |
| River/Stream | Pecos River |
| Coordinates | 32.54780, -104.37810 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 144 ft |
| Dam Height | 144 ft |
| Dam Length | 20,850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1989 (37 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 966,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 966,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 41,054 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39,301 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17,650 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 352,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 02/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00500 |
| Federal ID | NM00500 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |