Grindstone Canyon Dam

About Grindstone Canyon Dam

The primary purpose of Grindstone Canyon Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Ruidoso (local government). It impounds the Grindstone Canyon near Occupied Water Treatment Plant.

The dam stands 133 feet tall and stretches 1,304 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/2019.

At 133 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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.

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