Diversion Dams and Related Structures

There are two types of Dams located on the Colorado River and Rio Grande: Diversion Dams, which provide and regulate irrigation waters and Storage Dams, which hold vast amounts of water for conservation, downstream distribution and power generation.

Morelos Dam is a Diversion Dam that is located in the Northern most part of the International land Boundary line and intersects the Colorado River. It was constructed by Mexico pursuant to the Water Treaty of 1944 for the purpose of giving Mexico utilization of waters from the Colorado River.

American Dam is a diversion dam located in El Paso, Texas, around 3.5 miles from the business center and about 140 feet above the point of the beginning of the Western Land Boundary, between the U.S. and Mexico.

International Dam is downstream of American Dam and was originally built up with loaded sacks over 100 years ago. The dam was reconstructed in 1940 by the Bureau of Reclamation with rocks, concrete and radial gates. This diversion dams' purpose is to deliver water into the Acequia Madre for irrigation of farms in the Juarez Valley.

Anzalduas Dam is a diversion dam located in Hidalgo County, Texas, approximately 11 river miles upstream between Hidalgo, Texas and Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Construction of this dam began in April 1956 and became fully operational in April of 1960. The purpose of Anzalduas Dam is to divert the U.S. Share of floodwaters to its interior floodway. It also enables the diversion of waters to Mexico's main irrigation canal. View the Joint Report of the Technical Advisors of the IBWC regarding the Geotechnical, Electrical, Mechanical and Structural Safety of Anzalduas Dam

Retamal Dam is a diversion dam located 16 miles southeast of the City of McAllen, Texas. Construction on the Mexican portion of this dam began in November of 1971, and the U.S. portion was completed in May 1975. This diversion dam serves two flood control purposes. It enables Mexico to divert its share of floodwaters to its interior floodway and it also limits flood flows at Brownsville-Matamoros to the safe capacity of the Rio Grande. View the Joint Report of the Technical Advisors of the IBWC regarding the Geotechnical, Electrical, Mechanical and Structural Safety of Retamal Dam

In addition to the above diversion dams, the U.S. IBWC also owns and operates two reservoir storage, Hydroelectric Power Dams.