Galisteo Dam dam
Galisteo Dam
Galisteo Dam, also known as Galisteo Reservoir, is a federal infrastructure project located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along Galisteo Creek. Built in 1970 by CESPA, the dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction with a storage capacity of 152,600 acre-feet. Standing at 164 feet tall, the earth dam poses a high hazard potential due to its uncontrolled spillway type, which could lead to catastrophic downstream flooding in the event of a breach.
A risk assessment conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2018 determined that while the likelihood of a dam breach is low, the consequences of such an event would be severe, impacting communities along the Rio Grande to Elephant Butte Lake. To manage this risk, USACE implements regular inspections, maintenance activities, and risk communication efforts. Despite the potential for significant flooding, the project has successfully reduced flood risk in the area, but ongoing measures are essential to ensure the safety and resilience of downstream communities.
In conclusion, the Galisteo Dam project plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks along Galisteo Creek and the Rio Grande. While the dam has been effective in reducing flooding, the potential for a catastrophic breach remains a concern. Through comprehensive risk management measures, including regular inspections and maintenance, USACE is working to ensure the safety of downstream communities and minimize the impact of any potential dam failure.
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 Galisteo Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Galisteo Creek Below Galisteo Dam | · | → |
| Santa Fe River Above Cochiti Lake | 1 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Below Cochiti Dam | 214 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At San Felipe | 532 cfs | → |
| Rito De Los Frijoles In Bandelier Nat Mon | 1 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River Near Santa Fe | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Galisteo Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Tetilla Peak - Cochiti Lake
- Cochiti - Cochiti Lake
- Coronado
- Coronado State Monument
- Campbell Scout Ranch
- Juniper - Bandelier National Monument
Fishing spots
- Upper Dalton Fishing Access Fishing Site
- Dalton Fishing
- La Junta Fishing Site
- Las Casitas Fishing Site
- River's Bend Fishing Site
- San Diego Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Below Ellis Ranch To Private Land Boundary
- Headwaters To Nf Boundary (To Eastern Parcel Of Forest Valley Subdivision)
- Headwaters To Confluence With San Leonardo
- Fr 106 Bridge To Confluence With Rio Chama
- Abiqui Dam To El Rito Creek
- Confluence With San Leonardo To Nf Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Galisteo 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 Galisteo Dam
Where does the data for Galisteo 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 Galisteo Dam.