Cottonwood Dam

Cottonwood Dam is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Texas, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.

About Cottonwood Dam

The primary purpose of Cottonwood Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Indian Cliffs Ranch Inc (private). It impounds the Tr-san Felipe Arroyo near Fabens.

The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 1,020 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/28/2006. That was over 19 years ago.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Low HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateTexas
CountyEl Paso
Nearest CityFabens
River/StreamTr-san Felipe Arroyo
Coordinates31.54783, -106.08929

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height20 ft
Dam Height20 ft
Dam Length1,020 ft
Year Completed1937 (89 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage800 acre-ft
Max Storage800 acre-ft
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerINDIAN CLIFFS RANCH INC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection09/28/2006
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDTX01960
Federal IDTX01960
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams