Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 5 is an earth dam located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 1,570 ft long, taller than 86% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 5
The primary purpose of Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 5 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 Caballo Soil & Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Hammett Arroyo near Hatch.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,570 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 272 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2016. That was over 10 years ago.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Doña Ana |
| Nearest City | Hatch |
| River/Stream | Hammett Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 32.66890, -107.21280 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 272 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,038 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Caballo Soil & Water Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00220 |
| Federal ID | NM00220 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |