Antelope Valley Dam No. 3

CIMARRON RIVER - OS· Colfax, New Mexico· Built 1920· Earth· 24 ft tall
Low Hazard Irrigation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 is classified as low hazard in New Mexico. It was completed in 1920 and is 106 years old. Its primary use is irrigation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 24 ft (taller than 27.3% in NM)
Dam Length3,700 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage1.3K acre-ft
Normal Storage310 acre-ft
Surface Area90 acres
Max Discharge6,000 cfs
Year Completed1920 (106 years old)
NID IDNM00367

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: September 23, 2015
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER

Ownership

ANTELEOPE VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Antelope Valley Dam No. 3?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Antelope Valley Dam No. 3?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 is owned by ANTELEOPE VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 built?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 was completed in 1920, making it 106 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Antelope Valley Dam No. 3?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 serves the following purposes: Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Antelope Valley Dam No. 3?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 has a dam height of 24 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 last inspected?

Antelope Valley Dam No. 3 was last inspected on September 23, 2015. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.