Pino Dam is an earth dam located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 63 ft63 ft tall and 2,100 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Pino Dam
The primary purpose of Pino 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 Albuquerque Metro Arroyo Flood Control Authority (local government). It impounds the Pino Arroyo near Albuquerque.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 2,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 890 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/26/2019.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Bernalillo |
| Nearest City | Albuquerque |
| River/Stream | Pino Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 35.15667, -106.50284 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 890 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,282 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Albuquerque Metro Arroyo Flood Control Authority |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/26/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00419 |
| Federal ID | NM00419 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |