Gardner Dam
Gardner Dam is an earth dam located in Union County, New Mexico, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Gardner Dam
The primary purpose of Gardner Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Harkins, Larry (private). It impounds the Tramperos Creek - Tr near Clapham, Texas.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1941, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/26/2020.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 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 | Union |
| Nearest City | Clapham, Texas |
| River/Stream | Tramperos Creek - Tr |
| Coordinates | 36.25785, -103.55203 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | HARKINS, LARRY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00176 |
| Federal ID | NM00176 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |