A unique engineering structure, the La Boquilla Dam, located on Rio Conchos basin, a tributary of Rio Bravo in the Mexican Plateau has been in operation for more than 100 years. Built-in 1915, it was the largest dam in America at that time due to its storage capacity and is currently ranked as the 15th largest dam. Building this dam during the Mexican revolution was an achievement in the face of shortage of labour, limited machinery and tools.
The construction of this dam marks the modern hydraulic history of Mexico and was instrumental in triggering migration to the northern region due to the feasibility of agricultural activities in the area. The dam enabled development of first irrigation district, which is currently the most productive nationwide, contributing to food production and reduction of poverty in the region. It has enhanced the social and economic well-being of farmers and general population located in the south-central region of Mexico.
With a crest length of 259 m and base width of 60 m, the dam is located at an elevation of 80 m. It was constructed to meet the needs of water storage in the state especially for agriculture and for regulating extraordinary floods and for minimizing the risk of flooding in the towns. The storage capacity of the reservoir is 2894 Hm3. It has spillway and number of intake gates for abstracting water for irrigation and hydropower generation. Due to its hydrological and structural design, the dam was considered way ahead of its time. Even after 107 years, it is in good operating condition with a hydroelectric power station of capacity 25 MW and supplying irrigation benefits to an area of about 75,000 ha.
To conserve the dam, funding is provided by economic resources of Mexican government and beneficiary WUA’s through different departments and agencies. National water commission provides annual budget complemented with irrigation fees and usual conservation work is carried out periodically in order to keep the dam in optimal operating conditions. The people in the area have developed great respect for the dam and acknowledge that the well-being of the region depends on its optimal functioning and therefore they abstain from altering the environment surrounding the dam.