Mexican Hay Lake dam
Mexican Hay Lake
Mexican Hay Lake, located in Apache County, Arizona, is a private fish and wildlife pond with a primary purpose of supporting local wildlife. Built in 1908, the Earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans a length of 250 feet, with a storage capacity of 821 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 164 acres and is fed by the Joe Baca Draw - TR river or stream.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Mexican Hay Lake is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the lake serves as a recreational area for South Fork Campground visitors while also supporting irrigation needs in the surrounding area. Despite its age, the dam's condition is not currently rated, but it undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region will find Mexican Hay Lake to be a fascinating example of early 20th-century water management and conservation efforts. With its historical significance, diverse wildlife habitat, and critical role in local irrigation, Mexican Hay Lake is a valuable asset to the community and a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Mexican Hay Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Colorado River At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Filler Ditch At Greer | 1 cfs | → |
| Nutrioso Cr. Ab. Nelson Res Nr Springerville | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Abv Lyman Lake Nr St. Johns | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Colorado R Blw Salado Springs | · | → |
| East Fork White River Near Fort Apache | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mexican Hay Lake.
Campgrounds
- South Fork Campground
- Benny Creek
- Benny Creek Campground
- Rolfe C. Hoyer Campground
- Rolfe C. Hoyer
- Winn Campground
Fishing spots
- River Reservoir South Fishing Site
- Bunch Reservoir
- Crescent Lake Point Area Fishing Site
- Nelson Reservoir
- Lee Valley Reservoir
- Big Lake Dam Parking Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- South Fork Little Colorado River
- State Highway 261 To 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing
- 1/2 Mile Above Crosby Crossing To 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing
- 1/2 Mile Below Crosby Crossing To Confluence With Boneyard Creek
- West Fork Little Colorado River
- Forest Boundary To 0.15 Miles Below Forest Road 116
More reservoirs
Track Mexican Hay Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Mexican Hay Lake
Where does the data for Mexican Hay Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Mexican Hay Lake.