Clayton Dam

About Clayton Dam

The primary purpose of Clayton Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by New Mexico Department Of Game And Fish (state). It impounds the Cimarron River-tr near Downstream Residence.

The dam stands 82 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 175 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,630 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 112 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/04/2014. That was over 11 years ago.

At 82 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.

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