Avalon Dam holds back Lake Avalon on the Pecos River just north of Carlsbad, in Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico — a small reservoir with an outsized history. First built in 1889, it was one of the earliest major irrigation dams in the United States, twice destroyed by floods and rebuilt, and it still feeds the historic Carlsbad Project today. This guide is part of our growing New Mexico Lakes Database.
Avalon Dam at a glance
- Location: Pecos River, about 5 miles north of Carlsbad, Eddy County
- First built: 1889 — among the first major irrigation dams in the U.S.
- Rebuilt: after floods in 1893 and 1904; rebuilt by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1907
- Role: stores and diverts Pecos water into the Carlsbad Project (now about 25,000 irrigated acres)
- Honor: the Carlsbad Irrigation District was named a National Historic Landmark in 1964
A dam that refused to die
Avalon Dam was first thrown across the Pecos in 1889 by private developers — an early rock-fill dam faced with earth. A flood breached it in 1893, and after silver magnate James Hagerman rebuilt it, another flash flood destroyed it again in 1904. In 1907 the newly formed U.S. Bureau of Reclamation rebuilt Avalon for good, more than 1,000 feet long and later raised to a crest about 58 feet high. That resilience is why it’s remembered as a landmark of Western irrigation.
Fishing and recreation
Behind the dam, Lake Avalon is a modest Pecos-River reservoir used mainly for irrigation storage, but it also offers local fishing for catfish, bass and other warm-water species. Water levels swing with irrigation demand, so it’s more a working reservoir than a scenic getaway — but it’s a handy spot close to Carlsbad and a genuine piece of American water history.
Know before you go
- Working reservoir: levels rise and fall with irrigation; conditions vary through the season.
- License: a New Mexico fishing license is required for angling.
- Nearby: Carlsbad, Brantley Lake and the famous Carlsbad Caverns are all close by.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fish at Lake Avalon?
Yes — Lake Avalon offers local fishing for catfish, bass and other warm-water species, though it’s primarily an irrigation reservoir with changing water levels. A New Mexico license is required.
Why is Avalon Dam historically important?
Built in 1889 and rebuilt by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1907, it was one of the earliest major U.S. irrigation dams and still feeds the Carlsbad Project, a National Historic Landmark.
Where is Avalon Dam?
On the Pecos River about five miles north of Carlsbad, in Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico.
Related: explore more small lakes of New Mexico, or head back to the New Mexico Lakes Database.
Explore more New Mexico lakes: the largest lakes in New Mexico and the deepest lakes in New Mexico.
