Rhodes Arroyo Retarding Dam
Rhodes Arroyo Retarding Dam 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.
About Rhodes Arroyo Retarding Dam
The primary purpose of Rhodes Arroyo Retarding 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 Jobe Materials, L.p. & Fort Seldon, Inc. (private). It impounds the Rhodes Arroyo near Radium Springs.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 440 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 194 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 04/19/2016.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Doña Ana |
| Nearest City | Radium Springs |
| River/Stream | Rhodes Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 32.48333, -106.89399 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 440 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,580 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | JOBE MATERIALS, L.P. & FORT SELDON, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00277 |
| Federal ID | NM00277 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |