Dulce dam
Dulce
Dulce, also known as Dulce Lake, is a federally owned irrigation reservoir located in Rio Arriba, New Mexico. Managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this earth-type dam was completed in 1903 and serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with additional recreational uses. With a structural height of 30 feet and a length of 710 feet, the reservoir has a normal storage capacity of 480 acre-feet, making it a vital water resource for the region.
Despite being a federal facility, Dulce is not regulated or inspected by the state, but rather falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The dam's controlled spillway and high hazard potential highlight the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness. The last inspection in 2012 revealed a lack of condition assessment data, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of this critical water infrastructure.
Overall, Dulce represents an essential water resource in New Mexico, providing vital irrigation water for agricultural activities in the region. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the management and maintenance of dams like Dulce become increasingly important in ensuring sustainable water management practices and resilience to changing environmental conditions.
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 Dulce -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 89 cfs | → |
| San Juan River Near Carracas | 768 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 197 cfs | → |
| Rio Blanco Bl Blanco Div Dam | 41 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 169 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below El Vado Dam | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dulce.
Campgrounds
- Buzzard Park
- Stone Lake
- Blanco River
- Blanco River Group Campground
- Heron Lake State Park
- El Vado Lake State Park
Fishing spots
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Navajo Reservoir
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
- Trujillo Meadows Lake
- Spectacle Lake Fishing Site
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
Paddle runs
- Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Colorado Stateline
- Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Confluence With Vaqueros Canyon
- Jicarilla Apache Reservation Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Lower Branch--Sec 28, T33n, R3e; Upper Branch--Sec 15, T33n, R3e To Sec 7, T32n, R4e
More reservoirs
Track Dulce 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 Dulce
Where does the data for Dulce 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 Dulce.