Constructed in 1965 to control flood and sediments, the Cochiti Dam also serves as a recreational area and a wildlife refuge. It was built to control the overflow of the Rio Grande River in Santo Domingo, New Mexico. It is one of the creations of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Rio Grande Project.

The Cochiti Dam places 23rd on the ranking for the largest dam in the world being made with 48,052,000 m³ of earthen fill material. In the United States, it ranks as the 10th largest of its kind. It consists of 2 areas for recreation that is fully open to the public and both provide boat ramps and a beautiful view of the water reservoir. These are the Tetilla Peak Recreation (East) and the Cochiti Recreation Area (West).