Las Cruces Dam
Las Cruces Dam is an earth dam located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Las Cruces Dam
The primary purpose of Las Cruces 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 City Of Las Cruces (local government). It impounds the Alameda & Las Cruces Arroyos near Las Cruces.
The dam stands 85 feet tall and stretches 15,570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 550 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 29 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/26/2020.
At 85 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Doña Ana |
| Nearest City | Las Cruces |
| River/Stream | Alameda & Las Cruces Arroyos |
| Coordinates | 32.34620, -106.76190 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 550 acres |
| Drainage Area | 29 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF LAS CRUCES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00405 |
| Federal ID | NM00405 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |