Bluewater Dam
Bluewater Dam is an arch dam located in Cibola County, New Mexico, built in 1927. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bluewater Dam
The primary purpose of Bluewater Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bluewater-toltec Irrigation District (local government). It impounds the Bluewater Creek near Bluewater.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 655 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,730 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 207 square miles. Completed in 1927, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/05/2020.
At 99 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 | Cibola |
| Nearest City | Bluewater |
| River/Stream | Bluewater Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.29222, -108.11183 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Length | 655 ft |
| Year Completed | 1927 (99 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38,510 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,730 acres |
| Drainage Area | 207 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,260 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BLUEWATER-TOLTEC IRRIGATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00239 |
| Federal ID | NM00239 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |