Fenton Lake Dam dam
Fenton Lake Dam
Fenton Lake Dam, located in Sandoval, New Mexico, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of recreation, specifically for fish and wildlife ponds. Built in 1946, this earth dam stands at 41 feet high with a hydraulic height of 30 feet, creating a storage capacity of 721 acre-feet. The dam spans 362 feet in length and has a spillway width of 200 feet, designed as an uncontrolled spillway to manage a maximum discharge of 23,000 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Office of the State Engineer, Fenton Lake Dam is in fair condition with a high hazard potential. The dam's last inspection in June 2020 revealed its moderate risk level and its emergency action plan was last revised in January 2016. Despite its age, Fenton Lake Dam continues to provide a vital recreational and environmental resource for the surrounding area, contributing to the conservation of the Rio Cebolla river ecosystem and offering opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy its serene waters and scenic surroundings. With ongoing state regulation and inspection, Fenton Lake Dam remains a key component of water resource management in New Mexico.
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 Fenton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jemez River Near Jemez | 12 cfs | → |
| Rito De Los Frijoles In Bandelier Nat Mon | 1 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Below Cochiti Dam | 247 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam | 216 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Above Abiquiu Reservoir | 145 cfs | → |
| Rio Puerco Abv Arroyo Chico Nr Guadalupe | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fenton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Fenton Lake State Park
- Fenton Lake Campground
- Calaveras
- Calaveras Campground
- Horseshoe Springs Campground
- Seven Springs Camp Ground
Fishing spots
- Rincon Fishing Site
- Dark Canyon Fishing Site
- Bluffs Fishing Site
- River's Bend Fishing Site
- San Diego Fishing Site
- Las Casitas Fishing Site
Track Fenton Lake Dam 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 Fenton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fenton Lake Dam 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 High 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 Fenton Lake Dam.