El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5

STEVENS ARROYO· San Juan, New Mexico· Built 1964· Earth· 28 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 is classified as low hazard in New Mexico. It was completed in 1964 and is 62 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 28 ft (taller than 38.7% in NM)
Dam Length566 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage42 acre-ft
Normal Storage42 acre-ft
Surface Area6 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge239 cfs
Year Completed1964 (62 years old)
Year Modified1999
NID IDNM00583

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: December 9, 2015
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER

Ownership

SAN JUAN COUNTY

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 is owned by SAN JUAN COUNTY (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 built?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 was completed in 1964, making it 62 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 has a dam height of 28 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 last inspected?

El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 was last inspected on December 9, 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.