La Tierra Grande Dam
La Tierra Grande Dam is an earth dam located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, built in 1991. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About La Tierra Grande Dam
The primary purpose of La Tierra Grande Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cliff Miller (private). It impounds the Rio Brazos near Ensenada.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,080 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 127 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 06/18/2020.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Rio Arriba |
| Nearest City | Ensenada |
| River/Stream | Rio Brazos |
| Coordinates | 36.71567, -106.51092 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,080 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 47 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CLIFF MILLER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00560 |
| Federal ID | NM00560 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |