James Canyon Dam
James Canyon Dam is an earth dam located in Grant County, New Mexico, built in 2002. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About James Canyon Dam
The primary purpose of James Canyon 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 Freeport Mcmoran Corporation (private). It impounds the Whitewater Creek near Deming.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 526 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 980 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/30/2020.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Grant |
| Nearest City | Deming |
| River/Stream | Whitewater Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.69078, -108.10940 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 526 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 209 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 39,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FREEPORT MCMORAN CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00603 |
| Federal ID | NM00603 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |