Sumner Dam Radial Gates Replacement Project

Sumner Dam and Lake Sumner are on the Pecos River about 250 river miles north of Carlsbad and about 16 miles northwest of Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

The Bureau of Reclamation is undertaking a maintenance project to address the structural deterioration of the radial arm spillway gates at Sumner Dam, located on the Pecos River approximately 16 miles northwest of Fort Sumner, in De Baca County, New Mexico.

Sumner Dam, a rockfill and earth dam with a concrete spillway, impounds Lake Sumner, which has a total storage capacity of 122,804 acre-feet at an elevation of 4,282 feet. The dam is owned by Reclamation and operated by the Carlsbad Irrigation District (CID) to supply irrigation to downstream lands. It also provides flood control and recreational opportunities, such as swimming, boating, and fishing.

After 89 years of service, the three radial gates will be retired and replaced with new gates that meet current design standards. During the radial gates replacement project construction period, Reclamation will close the segment of State Road 203 that crosses Sumner Dam on a one lane bridge. A construction bypass route will be available during construction. Additional information and announcements will be provided as the project progresses.

Project Facts
  • • Replacing three 21-foot tall radial arm spillway gates
  • • Dam will continue operations during construction
  • • Traffic will be rerouted to a bypass road and bridge during construction

Calendar

  • Aug. 13 - Sept. 13: Supplemental Public Comment Period for Draft Environmental Assessment

Announcements

  • Public Comment Period – Aug. 2025

    Public Comment Period – Sumner Dam Radial Gates Replacement Project

    Reclamation has prepared a revised draft Environmental Assessment to analyze potential impacts associated with replacing the Sumner Dam Radial Gates. The Sumner Dam is located on the Pecos River approximately 16 miles northwest of Fort Sumner in De Baca County, New Mexico. This notice announces the availability of the revised draft EA for public review and comment. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 40 CFR Parts 1500–1508.

    You can view the assessment here: Draft Environmental Assesment Sumner Dam Radial Gates Project

    This EA will be open for public review for 30 days, from August 13 through September 13, 2025.

    You may submit written comments related to the Sumner Dam Radial Gates Replacement revised draft EA by the following methods:

    1. Mail to:
    Mr. David (Sonny) Cooper
    U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
    Albuquerque Area Office
    555 Broadway Blvd., NE
    Albuquerque, NM 87102

    2. Email to:
    SumnerDamRadialGatesProject@ddc-dine.com

    All comments must be received by September 13, 2025, when the public comment period ends.

  • Public Announcement – March 2025

    Pause of Sumner Dam Spillway Bridge Realignment Project

    During the NEPA public involvement process for replacement of the radial gates, a second unrelated project was introduced. This project proposed constructing a new bridge over the Pecos River just downstream of Sumner Dam to reroute NM203 traffic away from the dam crest and spillway bridge.

    The Federal Highway Administration, in coordination with Reclamation, secured a Federal Lands Transportation Program grant to develop a realignment of NM 203 off the spillway bridge of Sumner Dam. Reclamation has been actively working with project partners to develop a design and source additional funding for construction through the Bridge Investment Program.

    In January 2025, Reclamation was informed that BIP funding was not granted due to the project's ineligibility, stemming from the extent of the realignment. Studies have concluded that using the existing alignment for a new bridge is not feasible, making BIP funding unavailable for this project. The project has been paused until alternative, likely cost-shared, funding sources are committed.

    More information can be found in this Fact Sheet.

Last Updated: 8/14/25