Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4 dam
Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4
Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4, also known as Ralph Arroyo #4, is a crucial water resource infrastructure located in Rincon, Doña Ana, New Mexico. This Earth-type dam, completed in 1957 by the USDA NRCS, serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Ralph Arroyo stream. With a height of 37 feet and a length of 800 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 318 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 31 acres.
Despite its vital role in flood control, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 rated it as poor, with a high hazard potential. This highlights the urgent need for maintenance and potential rehabilitation to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the structure. The dam's inspection frequency is set at every 3 years, with the last inspection conducted in February 2017. While the risk assessment categorizes the dam's risk level as moderate, there is room for improvement in risk management measures and emergency action preparedness.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of infrastructure like Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4 in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region. Monitoring and investing in the maintenance of such structures are crucial to ensure their continued functionality and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. Collaboration between local government agencies, the Office of the State Engineer, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service is essential to address the dam's current poor condition and uphold its vital role in protecting the surrounding community and environment.
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 Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Below Elephant Butte Dam | 529 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Narrows In Elephant Butte Res. | 66 cfs | → |
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4.
Campgrounds
- Valles Canyon
- Scenic Valley
- Leasburg Dam State Park
- Percha Dam State Park
- Indian Springs Hill
- Caballo Lake State Park
Track Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4 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 Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4
Where does the data for Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4 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 Hatch Valley Arroyos Dam No. 4.