About John Martin Reservoir
Construction of the John Martin Dam and Reservoir began in August 1940, but work was suspended in the spring of 1943 due to World War II. Construction resumed in the spring of 1946 and the project was completed in October 1948.
The dam was built for the purposes of flood control and irrigation. The reservoir has a capacity of 603,500 acre-feet with 261,000 acre-feet for flood storage. The dam is a concrete gravity structure with a spillway of 1,174 feet and 16 tainter gates, each weighing 73 tons.
What is a Master Plan?
The Master Plan serves as a comprehensive land and recreational management plan with a life span of 25 years. The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Albuquerque District, revised the John Martin Reservoir Master Plan in 2018.
The Master Plan addresses changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and USACE management policy. Key topics include: revised land classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special topics such as invasive species management and threatened and endangered species habitat. Public participation and feedback was critical to the successful revision of the Master Plan.
