Stubblefield Dam dam
Stubblefield Dam
Stubblefield Dam, located in Maxwell, New Mexico, is a privately owned structure built by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1955 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This earth dam stands at a height of 43 feet and has a structural height of 59 feet, with a length of 10,119 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 16,074 acre-feet and serves the Vermejo River watershed.
Despite its critical role in irrigation, Stubblefield Dam is currently rated as having poor condition with a significant hazard potential. The dam has a spillway width of 300 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 4,000 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico and undergoes state inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam poses a moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3, and has an inspection frequency of every 2 years. While the dam's condition is assessed as poor, efforts are being made to manage the risk associated with the structure. Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the sustainability and resilience of dams in New Mexico may find Stubblefield Dam's history and current status a compelling case study in balancing agricultural needs with safety and regulatory requirements.
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 Stubblefield Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Tail Ditch Nr Maxwell | · | → |
| Vermejo River Near Dawson | 3 cfs | → |
| Ponil Creek Near Cimarron | 1 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 13 cfs | → |
| Canadian River Near Taylor Springs | 16 cfs | → |
| Rayado Creek Near Cimarron | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stubblefield Dam.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Shuree Lakes Fishing
- Trinidad Reservoir
- Red River Fishing
- Columbine Creek Fishing
- Monument Reservoir (Trinidad)
- North Lake
Paddle runs
Track Stubblefield 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 Stubblefield Dam
Where does the data for Stubblefield 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 Stubblefield Dam.