Fabens Dam
Fabens Dam is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Texas, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fabens Dam
The primary purpose of Fabens 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 El Paso County (local government). It impounds the San Felipe Arroyo near Fabens.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/12/2020.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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 Texas 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 | Texas |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | Fabens |
| River/Stream | San Felipe Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 31.51859, -106.12564 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | EL PASO COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/12/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01958 |
| Federal ID | TX01958 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |