Bear Canyon Dam
Bear Canyon Dam is an earth dam located in Grant County, New Mexico, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bear Canyon Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Canyon Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by New Mexico Department Of Game And Fish (state). It impounds the Bear Canyon Creek near Mimbres;san Lorenzo.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,483 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/21/2020.
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 | Grant |
| Nearest City | Mimbres;san Lorenzo |
| River/Stream | Bear Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.88311, -107.99236 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 79 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,483 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,483 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 685 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,328 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00374 |
| Federal ID | NM00374 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |