Morehead Avenue Dam is an earth dam located in El Paso County, Texas, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Morehead Avenue Dam
Morehead Avenue Dam is a dam in El Paso, Texas. The dam is owned by City of El Paso (local government). It impounds the Off Ch-rio Grande near El Paso.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 5 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/12/2020.
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 | El Paso |
| River/Stream | Off Ch-rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 31.80646, -106.47060 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 586 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | City of El Paso |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/12/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX07015 |
| Federal ID | TX07015 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |