El Potrero Airport

Project Completion. The airport was a purpose-built airstrip constructed specifically to support the massive La Yesca Hydroelectric Project (2007-2012) by Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). Its location next to the 'Campamento El Potrero' construction camp was strategic. Upon the dam's inauguration in November 2012 and the subsequent demobilization of the thousands of workers, the primary reason for the airport's existence vanished. With no further economic or logistical need, it was decommissioned.

The airport is closed, inactive, and unmaintained. As of the latest satellite imagery, the paved runway (approximately 1,200 meters / 3,900 feet) and its markings (centerline, thresholds) remain physically intact but are significantly faded. The adjacent construction camp buildings appear to be largely abandoned. The site is not used for any formal aviation, agricultural, or industrial purpose and is slowly being reclaimed by nature. The runway itself is not obstructed and could potentially be used in an emergency, but it is not an officially active airfield.

El Potrero Airport was a critical piece of infrastructure for the construction of the La Yesca Dam, one of the tallest concrete-faced rock-fill dams in the world. Given the project's extreme remoteness in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, the airport was a vital logistical lifeline. Its primary operations included:

1. **Personnel Transport:** Flying in engineers, project managers, government officials, and specialized technicians from cities like Tepic and Guadalajara.
2. **Medical Evacuations:** Providing a rapid means of transporting injured workers from the hazardous construction site to major hospitals.
3. **Urgent Cargo:** Transporting time-sensitive, high-value, or lightweight spare parts and equipment that could not endure the long and difficult journey by road.

Essentially, it enabled the massive, multi-billion dollar project to proceed by overcoming the significant geographical isolation of the site.

Extremely low to none. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening El Potrero Airport. The dam is now fully operational and requires only a small permanent staff for maintenance and control, which does not justify the cost of an airport. The surrounding area has a very low population density and lacks other major economic drivers (such as large-scale tourism, mining, or industry) that would necessitate air service. Reactivating the airport would be economically unfeasible.