Rio Grande dams and diversions are structures that store water along the Rio Grande or its tributaries, or that divert water for use in irrigation. The first diversions were made by the Pueblo Indians over 1,000 years ago. More permanent diversions were built by the Spanish in New Mexico to feed acequias, or shared irrigation canals. The first dam to impound the Rio Grande was the Rio Grande Dam, completed in 1914, followed by the Elephant Butte Dam, completed in 1916.
Projects
Several major projects have undertaken construction of dams and diversion in the Rio Grande basin.
The Rio Grande Project built the Elephant Butte Dam and the Caballo Dam. A number of diversion dams were also constructed in this project, including the Leasburg, Percha, Mesilla, American and Riverside diversion dams. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District built El Vado Dam and the Angostura, Isleta and San Acacia diversion dams. Rehabilitation of these dams, and construction of the Cochiti Dam were undertaken by the Middle Rio Grande Project. The San Juan–Chama Project brings water to the Rio Grande basin from the Colorado River Basin, building the Heron Dam to store some of the water, with an expansion of the El Vado Dam storing some of the remainder. The Closed Basin Project extracts groundwater from the San Luis Valley and delivers it into the Rio Grande.
Pecos River
The Pecos River is the largest tributary of the Rio Grande, and several dams have been built along it. These include the Sumner Dam, Santa Rosa Dam, Brantley Dam, Avalon Dam and Red Bluff Dam.
List of structures Structures include: Name Complete Owner Capacity LocationClosed Basin Project early 1990sBureau of Reclamation 25,000 acre-feet annually Field of salvage wells in the San Luis Valley, ColoradoRio Grande Dam and Reservoir 1914 San Luis Valley Irrigation District 52,000 acre-feet Near Creede, ColoradoPlatoro Dam and Reservoir 1951 Bureau of Reclamation 59,570 acre-feet Conejos River, ColoradoHeron Dam and Reservoir 1971Bureau of Reclamation 399,980 acre-feetWillow Creek at confluence with the Rio ChamaEl Vado Dam and Reservoir 1935 Bureau of Reclamation 195,440 acre-feetRio Chama, New MexicoAbiquiu Dam and Reservoir 1963Corps of Engineers 1,192,800 acre-feet Rio Chama, New MexicoCochiti Dam and Cochiti Lake 1973Corps of Engineers 582,019 acre-feet Sandoval County, New MexicoGalisteo Dam and Reservoir 1970Corps of Engineers 88,900 acre-feetGalisteo Creek, New Mexico near confluence with the Middle Rio GrandeJemez Canyon Dam and Reservoir 1953Corps of Engineers 102,700 acre-feet Confluence of Jemez River and the Middle Rio Grande, New MexicoAngostura Diversion Dam 1934MRGCD650 cfs diversionMiddle Rio Grande, 5 miles upstream of Bernalillo, New MexicoIsleta Diversion Dam 1934MRGCD 1,070 cfs diversionMiddle Rio Grande, 13 mi south of Albuquerque, New MexicoSan Acacia Diversion Dam 1934 MRGCD 283 cfs diversionMiddle Rio Grande at San Acacia, New MexicoElephant Butte Dam and Reservoir 1916Bureau of Reclamation 2,065,010 acre feetMiddle Rio Grande, 3.75 miles east of Truth or ConsequencesCaballo Dam and Reservoir 1938Bureau of Reclamation 331,510 acre-feet Rio Grande, 17 miles downstream from Elephant Butte DamPercha Diversion Dam 1918 Bureau of Reclamation 350 cu ft/s diversion 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the Caballo Dam Leasburg Diversion Dam 1907 Bureau of ReclamationRio Grande, 5 miles northwest of Las Cruces, New MexicoMesilla Diversion Dam 1916 Bureau of Reclamation 950 cu ft/s diversion 40 miles (64 km) upstream of El PasoAmerican Diversion Dam 1938 International Boundary &Water Commission 1,200 cu ft/s diversion3.5 miles upstream from El Paso, TexasInternational Diversion Dam 1918International Boundary &Water Commission 60,000 acre feet / year2 miles downstream from American DamRiverside Diversion Dam 1928International Boundary &Water Commission 900 cu ft/sec diversion 14 miles downstream from American DamAmistad Dam1968 International Boundary &Water Commission 5,100,000 acre-feetConfluence of the Rio Grande and the Pecos River, TexasFalcon Dam 1954 International Boundary &Water Commission 3,200,000 acre-feet Between Starr County, Texas and Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas
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