Copper Flats Tailings Dam
Copper Flats Tailings Dam is an earth dam located in Sierra County, New Mexico, built in 1980. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Copper Flats Tailings Dam
The primary purpose of Copper Flats Tailings Dam 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 New Mexico Copper Corporation (private). It impounds the Grayback Arroyo near Unincorporated Residents Downstream Of Dam.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 6,628 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 04/26/2018.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Sierra |
| Nearest City | Unincorporated Residents Downstream Of Dam |
| River/Stream | Grayback Arroyo |
| Coordinates | 32.95760, -107.49761 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,628 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | NEW MEXICO COPPER CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00564 |
| Federal ID | NM00564 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |