Sanchez Stabilizing dam
Sanchez Stabilizing
Sanchez Stabilizing, located in Costilla, Colorado, is a privately-owned irrigation dam constructed in 1956 by the USDA NRCS. This earth-type dam stands at a height of 29 feet and serves multiple purposes, including fish and wildlife pond management. With a storage capacity of 425 acre-feet and a surface area of 33 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Sanchez Stabilizing is considered to have a very high risk due to its condition assessment being rated as fair. The dam, which spans 800 feet and has a maximum discharge capacity of 353 cubic feet per second, is regulated and inspected by the Colorado Department of Water Resources. It is vital for stakeholders and climate enthusiasts to monitor and support the maintenance and risk management measures for Sanchez Stabilizing to ensure its continued effectiveness in irrigation and conservation efforts along the Costilla Creek watershed.
With its controlled spillway and location in the Albuquerque District, Sanchez Stabilizing is a significant structure in the region, managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the dam's condition and any updates from regulatory agencies to support sustainable water management practices and mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
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 Sanchez Stabilizing -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Culebra Creek At San Luis | 51 cfs | → |
| Costilla Creek Near Garcia | · | → |
| Costilla Creek Near Costilla | 6 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Near Lobatos | 63 cfs | → |
| Trinchera Creek Below Smith Res | 0 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Ab Mouth Trinchera C Nr Lasauses | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sanchez Stabilizing.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Blue Lake
- Purgatoire
- Purgatoire Campground
- Bear Lake
- Basecamp Campground And Rv Park
- Base Camp Family Campground
Fishing spots
- Stabilization Reservoir
- Sanchez Reservoir
- Smith Reservoir (Costilla Cty)
- Conejos River
- Mountain Home Reservoir
- Rio San Antonio
Paddle runs
- Rio Grande River Segment B
- Rio Grande River Segment C
- Rio Grande River Segment A
- Headwaters To Costilla Creek
- Nf Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Nf Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Sanchez Stabilizing 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 Sanchez Stabilizing
Where does the data for Sanchez Stabilizing 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 Sanchez Stabilizing.