Eagle Nest Dam
Encyclopedia
The Eagle Nest Dam is a dam just east of the town of Eagle Nest, New Mexico
on U.S. Route 64
. The dam is on the Cimarron River, and it is responsible for Eagle Nest Lake
.
In 1907, two wealthy ranchers, Frank Springer and Charles Springer were granted a water permit (New Mexico Permit #71) to impound the water of the Cimarron River for irrigation by building a dam. Construction of the dam began in 1918, and continued until 1920. The dam is 140 feet (42.7 m) high and 400 feet (121.9 m) wide. At the top, the dam is 9.5 feet (2.9 m) wide, and it is 45.2 feet (13.8 m) wide at the base. It is considered the largest privately-built dam in the United States. The resulting lake, known as Eagle Nest Lake has an area of 2500 acre (10.1 km²; 3.9 sq mi) and measures 5 miles (8 km) long, and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The surface elevation of the water is about 8300 feet (2,529.8 m) above sea level. The dam and reservoir can hold almost 70000 acre.ft of water.
To help finance the dam, Springer sold some water rights from Eagle Nest Lake to local farmers and ranchers. These original rights are known as vested rights. In 1951, the State of New Mexico adjudicated the watershed of the Cimarron River. This adjudication
confirmed Springer's original permit which gave him the right to store surplus and flood water in the Eagle Nest Lake. There were many other court cases, and one of them ended up in the New Mexico State Supreme Court in 1990.
The water rights from Eagle Nest Lake have been purchased by local towns including Raton
and
Springer
. The villages of Angel Fire
and Eagle Nest
also get their water from the lake. In 2002, the State of New Mexico bought the lake, and it is now operated by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC). After New Mexico bought the lake, various water users approached Governor Bill Richardson in hopes of mediation to end the litigation over water rights.
Governor Richardson and the local governing bodies signed the Eagle Nest Water Rights Settlement on June 2, 2006. This settlement specifies that all users share in water shortages. The sharing arrangement is based on the amount of water in the lake on June 1 of each year. All users will be treated equally, including the so-called Tier-Two users who make bulk water purchases. The agreement can be viewed on the web.
Eagle Nest, New Mexico
Eagle Nest is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. Situated on the Enchanted Circle Highway, Eagle Nest is a small summer-home and resort area...
on U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 64 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles from eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 160 in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. The highway's eastern terminus is at NC 12 and U.S. Route...
. The dam is on the Cimarron River, and it is responsible for Eagle Nest Lake
Eagle Nest Lake State Park
Eagle Nest Lake State Park is a state park in New Mexico, USA. The park is located outside Eagle Nest, approximately east of Taos. It was established on July 3, 2004. Its main attraction is a lake which is popular for fishing and boating in the summer, and ice fishing and snowmobiling in the...
.
In 1907, two wealthy ranchers, Frank Springer and Charles Springer were granted a water permit (New Mexico Permit #71) to impound the water of the Cimarron River for irrigation by building a dam. Construction of the dam began in 1918, and continued until 1920. The dam is 140 feet (42.7 m) high and 400 feet (121.9 m) wide. At the top, the dam is 9.5 feet (2.9 m) wide, and it is 45.2 feet (13.8 m) wide at the base. It is considered the largest privately-built dam in the United States. The resulting lake, known as Eagle Nest Lake has an area of 2500 acre (10.1 km²; 3.9 sq mi) and measures 5 miles (8 km) long, and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The surface elevation of the water is about 8300 feet (2,529.8 m) above sea level. The dam and reservoir can hold almost 70000 acre.ft of water.
To help finance the dam, Springer sold some water rights from Eagle Nest Lake to local farmers and ranchers. These original rights are known as vested rights. In 1951, the State of New Mexico adjudicated the watershed of the Cimarron River. This adjudication
Adjudication
Adjudication is the legal process by which an arbiter or judge reviews evidence and argumentation including legal reasoning set forth by opposing parties or litigants to come to a decision which determines rights and obligations between the parties involved....
confirmed Springer's original permit which gave him the right to store surplus and flood water in the Eagle Nest Lake. There were many other court cases, and one of them ended up in the New Mexico State Supreme Court in 1990.
The water rights from Eagle Nest Lake have been purchased by local towns including Raton
Raton, New Mexico
Raton is a city in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 7,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is located just south of Raton Pass.-Name:...
and
Springer
Springer, New Mexico
Springer is a town in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. It was the Colfax County county seat from 1882—1897. Springer was part of the Lucien B. Maxwell land grant. It is near the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail...
. The villages of Angel Fire
Angel Fire, New Mexico
Angel Fire is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,048 at the 2000 census. It is a popular ski resort destination, with a base elevation of 8,600 feet and a summit of 10,677 feet with over of skiable terrain.To the north, off U.S...
and Eagle Nest
Eagle Nest, New Mexico
Eagle Nest is a village in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. Situated on the Enchanted Circle Highway, Eagle Nest is a small summer-home and resort area...
also get their water from the lake. In 2002, the State of New Mexico bought the lake, and it is now operated by the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (ISC). After New Mexico bought the lake, various water users approached Governor Bill Richardson in hopes of mediation to end the litigation over water rights.
Governor Richardson and the local governing bodies signed the Eagle Nest Water Rights Settlement on June 2, 2006. This settlement specifies that all users share in water shortages. The sharing arrangement is based on the amount of water in the lake on June 1 of each year. All users will be treated equally, including the so-called Tier-Two users who make bulk water purchases. The agreement can be viewed on the web.
See also
- Eagle Nest Lake State ParkEagle Nest Lake State ParkEagle Nest Lake State Park is a state park in New Mexico, USA. The park is located outside Eagle Nest, approximately east of Taos. It was established on July 3, 2004. Its main attraction is a lake which is popular for fishing and boating in the summer, and ice fishing and snowmobiling in the...
- Cimarron Canyon State ParkCimarron Canyon State ParkCimarron Canyon State Park is a state park of New Mexico, USA, located east of Eagle Nest in the Colin Neblett Wildlife Area. The park is popular for trout fishing in the Cimarron River and its tributaries, Clear Creek and Tolby Creek.. The park also has numerous trails, which are used for hiking...