Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 dam
Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2
Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2, also known as Wasson Dam, is a crucial structure located in Doña Ana, New Mexico, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1959. This earth dam stands at a height of 22.6 feet, with a structural height of 32 feet, serving primarily for flood risk reduction along the Wasson Arroyo. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Office of the State Engineer, this dam plays a vital role in controlling water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential hazards.
With a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of March 2019, Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. Despite its moderate risk assessment, this dam poses a significant importance in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. The presence of an uncontrolled spillway and slide gate outlet system further highlights the critical role this dam plays in safeguarding the community and surrounding lands from potential water-related emergencies.
As a key component in the flood risk reduction infrastructure of Doña Ana, New Mexico, Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government and federal agencies like the USDA NRCS. With its strategic location along the Wasson Arroyo and its significant storage capacity, this dam serves as a crucial asset in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. Regular monitoring and maintenance of this essential structure are essential to ensuring its continued effectiveness in protecting the community and environment from potential water-related risks.
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 Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Below Elephant Butte Dam | 2,080 cfs | → |
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Narrows In Elephant Butte Res. | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2.
Campgrounds
- Percha Dam State Park
- Caballo Lake State Park
- Valles Canyon
- Hillsboro City Rv Park
- Scenic Valley
- Leasburg Dam State Park
Paddle runs
- Aldo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Junction Of Water Canyon And Holden Prong To Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Las Animas Creek
- Headwaters To Junction Of Trails 707/68 (Sec 35, T12s, R11w)
- Headwaters To Confluence With Diamond Creek
Track Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 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 Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2
Where does the data for Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2 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 Caballo Arroyo Dam No. 2.