Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 3
Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 3 is an earth dam located in San Juan County, New Mexico, built in 1976. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 3
The primary purpose of Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 3 is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Arizona Public Service Company (public utility). It impounds the Chaco Wash - Tr near Shiprock.
The dam stands 95 feet tall and stretches 6,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 138 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 839 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/20/2019.
At 95 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | San Juan |
| Nearest City | Shiprock |
| River/Stream | Chaco Wash - Tr |
| Coordinates | 36.68660, -108.51140 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 839 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 839 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 839 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 138 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/20/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00449 |
| Federal ID | NM00449 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |