Northgate Dam
Northgate Dam is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Texas, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Northgate Dam
The primary purpose of Northgate 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 City Of El Paso (local government). It impounds the Tr-rio Grande near El Paso.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 3,325 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,931 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 03/05/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 67 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 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 | El Paso |
| River/Stream | Tr-rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 31.87561, -106.44589 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,931 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,931 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 40,154 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF EL PASO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX01968 |
| Federal ID | TX01968 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |