| Conchas Dam | |
| Coordinates: | 35.4031°N -104.1906°W |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | San Miguel County, New Mexico |
| Construction Began: | 1935 |
| Opening: | 1939 |
| Dam Height: | 235feet[1] |
| Dam Length: | 19500feet |
| Dam Crosses: | Canadian River |
| Res Name: | Conchas Lake |
| Res Capacity Total: | 709119acre feet |
| Res Catchment: | 7409mi2 |
| Res Surface: | 16033acres (max)[2] |
Conchas Dam is a dam on the Canadian River in San Miguel County, New Mexico in the United States, about 50miles northeast of Santa Rosa.[3] Forming Conchas Lake, it is a concrete gravity dam flanked by earthen wing dikes, standing 235feet high with a total length of 19500feet.[1] The dam serves mainly for irrigation water supply and flood control and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
First proposed in the early 1930s, the dam was initially rejected because of its remote site and Depression conditions in New Mexico. However, the dam was made a possibility in 1935 with the passage of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, which authorized several public works projects in New Mexico to provide relief to unemployment. Initial site work began in 1935 with construction on the actual dam starting in 1936. In 1939 construction was completed at a cost of $15.8 million.[4] [5]
Conchas Dam holds back a permanent pool of 61532acre feet, with a maximum flood-control capacity of 709119acre feet.[1] At normal water levels the reservoir has a surface area of 2694acres,[1] increasing to 16033acres at full pool.[2]
The dam and reservoir are the primary feature of the Tucumcari Irrigation Project. Water released from the dam is diverted into 300miles of canals which irrigate 41400acres of land in the Canadian River valley.[6] The irrigation works were built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1940–1942 and were turned over to the Arch Hurley Conservancy District in 1954.[7]