Lee Detention is a gravity dam located in Otero County, New Mexico, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 916 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lee Detention
The primary purpose of Lee Detention is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Doi BLM (federal). It impounds the New Tank Draw near Dell City Texas.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 916 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 176 acre-feet. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/29/2017.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Otero |
| Nearest City | Dell City Texas |
| River/Stream | New Tank Draw |
| Coordinates | 32.11160, -105.55375 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 916 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 176 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 176 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Max Discharge | 950 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Doi BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/29/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00109 |
| Federal ID | NM00109 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |