Bureau Chief, Elaine Pacheco

The Dam Safety Bureau ensures that dams in New Mexico are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained safely to prevent dam failures. Dams that equal or exceed 25 feet in height, which exceed 15 acre-feet of storage or dams that equal or exceed 50 acre-feet storage, which equal or exceed 6 feet in height are under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer.

The responsibilities of the Dam Safety Bureau include inspecting existing dams to verify they are operated and maintained in a safe condition. The bureau reviews plans and specifications for new dams and modifications and repairs to existing dams to ensure compliance with State Engineer design criteria. The bureau also inspects construction to verify the dams are built or repaired in accordance with the plans on file with the State Engineer.

To contact the Dam Safety Bureau, call (505) 827-6122, or fax (505) 827-6068.

The Bureau is located in the Lew Wallace Building at:
495 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 210
Santa Fe, NM 87501

The mailing address is:
P.O. Box 25102
Santa Fe, NM 87504