Crowley Irrigation System
Crowley Irrigation System is an earth dam located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Crowley Irrigation System
The primary purpose of Crowley Irrigation System is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Shahan, Donald (private). It impounds the Spring Draw.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/18/2020.
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 | Rio Arriba |
| River/Stream | Spring Draw |
| Coordinates | 36.98584, -106.77790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 60 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SHAHAN, DONALD |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00331 |
| Federal ID | NM00331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |