New Mexico leads US with high-hazard dams in poor shape

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — On the edge of southern New Mexico's largest city is an earthen dam, built decades ago to keep storm runoff from carving through the desert hills and flooding the populated area below.

New Mexico State University's golf course is just downstream and beyond that is a major artery for interstate travel, the university's sports arena, student housing and a collection of neighborhoods.

The Tortugas Site 1 Dam has never been breached in nearly 60 years, but erosion is taking a toll as deep ruts have developed on the dam's slopes and unwanted vegetation has sprouted around the spillway.

The dam is just one of 97 dams in New Mexico that are considered high hazard because of the potential for loss of life if they failed and have been determined to be in poor or unsatisfactory condition.

A more than two-year investigation by The Associated Press shows New Mexico leads the nation with the highest percentage — nearly 50% — of its high-hazard dams being in bad shape. Nationally, at least 1,680 dams were in that category as of last year.

Some are decades-old and on the list because they lack design and other construction documents that would provide more certainty about their stability. Others have inadequate spillways that would be incapable of withstanding a historic storm.

Many dams on the list in New Mexico also lack emergency action plans, or documents that would detail how authorities would respond to a dam failure and how they would alert downstream residents.

The plan for the Tortugas Dam includes a pre-scripted emergency broadcast that warns residents not to return to their homes or residence halls to recover their belongings, but rather to head for higher ground.

"Listen carefully. Your life may depend on immediate action," the suggested...