Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam dam
Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam
The Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam, also known as the Salado Creek Floodwater Retarding Structure, is a vital flood risk reduction infrastructure located in Lincoln, New Mexico. Built in 1959 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 94 feet and spans a length of 690 feet, effectively controlling the flow of Salado Creek and Gyp Spring Canyon. With a storage capacity of 7120 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 13200 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite its significant contribution to flood risk reduction, the Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, with a current rating of poor and a high hazard potential. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, ensuring that necessary enforcement and permitting measures are in place to maintain its integrity. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a regular inspection frequency of 3 years, efforts are being made to manage and mitigate any potential risks associated with this critical infrastructure.
As a key component of the flood control system in the region, the Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam serves as a crucial safeguard against water-related disasters. With its strategic location and design, this dam continues to play a vital role in protecting the community of Lincoln and its surroundings from the impacts of flooding, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of 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 Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Ruidoso At Hollywood | 5 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek Below South Fork Near Alto | 0 cfs | → |
| Rio Ruidoso At Ruidoso | 4 cfs | → |
| Tularosa Creek Near Bent | 14 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo At Diamond A Ranch Nr Roswell | · | → |
| Rio Hondo Blw Diamond A Dam Nr Roswell | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam.
Track Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 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 Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam
Where does the data for Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 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 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 Upper Rio Hondo Site No. 1 Dam.