Caballo Dam
Caballo Dam is a rockfill dam located in Sierra County, New Mexico, built in 1938. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Caballo Dam
The primary purpose of Caballo 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Rio Grande River near Hatch.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 4,558 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14,530 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 379,210 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27,832 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/02/2023.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Sierra |
| Nearest City | Hatch |
| River/Stream | Rio Grande River |
| Coordinates | 32.89620, -107.29300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,558 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 379,210 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 379,210 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 231,510 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14,530 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27,832 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00131 |
| Federal ID | NM00131 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |