El Vado Dam
El Vado Dam is an other dam located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About El Vado Dam
The primary purpose of El Vado Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Rio Chama River near El Vado.
The dam stands 230 feet tall and stretches 1,326 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,380 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 209,330 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 794 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 07/28/2020.
At 230 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 | Rio Arriba |
| Nearest City | El Vado |
| River/Stream | Rio Chama River |
| Coordinates | 36.59380, -106.73320 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 230 ft |
| Dam Height | 230 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,326 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 209,330 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 209,330 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 196,250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,380 acres |
| Drainage Area | 794 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM10008 |
| Federal ID | NM10008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |