Riverside Diversion Dam is a gravity dam located in El Paso County, Texas, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 267 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Riverside Diversion Dam
The primary purpose of Riverside Diversion Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by US Department of the Interior (federal). It impounds the Rio Grande near San Elizario.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 267 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 400 acre-feet. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/19/1996. That was 30 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 Texas 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 | Texas |
| County | El Paso |
| Nearest City | San Elizario |
| River/Stream | Rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 31.65848, -106.32891 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 267 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | US Department of the Interior |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/1996 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00025 |
| Federal ID | TX00025 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |