Apodaca Arroyo Dam
Apodaca Arroyo Dam is an earth dam located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, built in 1962. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Apodaca Arroyo Dam
The primary purpose of Apodaca Arroyo 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 Apodaca Farms (private). It impounds the Apodaca Arroyo near La Mesa.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,549 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 193 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 05/31/2016.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Doña Ana |
| Nearest City | La Mesa |
| River/Stream | Apodaca Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 32.11473, -106.72746 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,549 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 193 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 193 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,340 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | APODACA FARMS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/31/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00280 |
| Federal ID | NM00280 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |