Upper Tansil Dam dam
Upper Tansil Dam
Upper Tansil Dam, located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, was completed in 1893 and serves as a crucial water resource for the area. The dam, primarily owned by the local government, has a primary purpose of recreation and boasts a concrete structure with a height of 22 feet and a length of 585 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 550 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 617 acre-feet, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Upper Tansil Dam is facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor. The hazard potential associated with the dam is considered significant, and the risk assessment has been classified as moderate. The dam's last inspection in February 2019 revealed the need for immediate attention and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor the state-regulated Upper Tansil Dam, it is evident that proactive measures need to be taken to address its poor condition and significant hazard potential. With its critical role in water management and recreation, stakeholders must prioritize the dam's maintenance and risk mitigation strategies to safeguard both the environment and the surrounding communities that rely on its services.
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 Upper Tansil Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecos River Below Dark Canyon At Carlsbad | 8 cfs | → |
| Dark Canyon At Carlsbad | · | → |
| Pecos River Below Avalon Dam | · | → |
| Carlsbad Main Canal At Head Near Carlsbad | 154 cfs | → |
| Pecos R At Damsite 3 Nr Carlsbad | 209 cfs | → |
| Rocky Arroyo At Hwy Brd Nr Carlsbad | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Tansil Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Windmill Rv Park
- Avalon Resevoir Campground
- Alkali Lake Ohv Dispersed
- Dark Canyon Dispersed
- Brantley Lake State Park
- Hackberry Lake Ohv Dispersed
Paddle runs
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land Along Sitting Bull Canyon In Sec 19, T24s, R22e To Eastern Nf Boundary
- Pine Canyon (East Of Private Land In Sec 26, T24s, R21e) To Confluence Of Sitting Bull Canyon And Last Chance Canyon
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land In Sec 2, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Confluence Of Turkey Canyon And Robinson Draw (Sec 33, T24s, R22e) To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Headwaters Of Channel In Sec 9, T24s, R22e To Sitting Bull Canyon
- Headwaters In Sec 12, T25s, R22e To Payne Canyon In Sec 1, T25s, R22e
Track Upper Tansil 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 Upper Tansil Dam
Where does the data for Upper Tansil 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 Significant 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 Upper Tansil Dam.