Cutter dam
Cutter
Cutter is a federally-owned irrigation dam located in Blanco, New Mexico, along the Navajo Main Canal. Built in 1972 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Cutter stands at a structural height of 145 feet and has a storage capacity of 1793 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is irrigation, with additional recreational opportunities available. The dam's spillway is controlled, and it has a high hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating.
The dam is managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which also funded its construction and oversees its regulatory and inspection activities. Despite its high hazard potential, Cutter's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available." The last inspection was conducted in February 2012, with a recommended inspection frequency of every five years. The emergency action plan for Cutter was last revised in July 2005, and it is noted that the dam meets guidelines, although details on inundation maps and risk management measures are not provided.
Overall, Cutter serves as a vital water resource for irrigation in the region, despite its high hazard potential. As a significant structure managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensure the safety and reliability of the dam. Climate and water resource enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure would find Cutter's data and risk assessment to be of particular interest, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management in safeguarding critical water resources.
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 Cutter -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan River Near Archuleta | 385 cfs | → |
| Animas River Below Aztec | 906 cfs | → |
| Los Pinos River At La Boca | 74 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At La Boca | 40 cfs | → |
| Animas River Near Cedar Hill | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Florida River At Bondad | -888 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cutter.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Cottonwood - Navajo Lake State Park
- Simon Canyon Dispersed
- Pine River - Navajo Lake State Park
- Sims Mesa - Navajo Lake State Park
- Angel Peak
- Angel Peak Scenic Area
Fishing spots
- Navajo Reservoir
- Pastorius Reservoir
- Animas River
- Lemon Reservoir
- Vallecito Reservoir
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
Track Cutter 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 Cutter
Where does the data for Cutter 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 Cutter.