Intrepid Potash Ponds 1-5 Dam
Intrepid Potash Ponds 1-5 Dam is an earth dam located in Eddy County, New Mexico. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Intrepid Potash Ponds 1-5 Dam
The primary purpose of Intrepid Potash Ponds 1-5 Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Intrepid Potash, Inc. (private). It impounds the Pecos River-tr near Rural.
The dam stands 12 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, and has a storage capacity of 313 acre-feet.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 02/28/2019.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Eddy |
| Nearest City | Rural |
| River/Stream | Pecos River-tr |
| Coordinates | 32.49057, -103.78073 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | INTREPID POTASH, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00699 |
| Federal ID | NM00699 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |