Copper Avenue Dam
Copper 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 fair condition assessment.
About Copper Avenue Dam
The primary purpose of Copper Avenue 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 City Of El Paso (local government). It impounds the Off-channel Rio Grande near El Paso.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/13/2020.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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-channel Rio Grande |
| Coordinates | 31.79037, -106.47213 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 40 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,012 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF EL PASO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX07019 |
| Federal ID | TX07019 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |