Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam dam
Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam
Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam, also known as the Clark Floodwater Retarding Structure, is a crucial flood risk reduction infrastructure located in an unincorporated community southeast of the dam in Grant, New Mexico. Built in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and a length of 300 feet, with a storage capacity of 82 acre-feet. Designed to control debris and reduce flood risks along the Clark (Miller) Canyon, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation.
Despite its importance, the Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, with a high hazard potential. With a moderate risk rating and a last inspection date in May 2018, there is a pressing need for maintenance and improvement to ensure the dam's structural integrity and functionality. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and inadequate outlet gates contribute to its risk profile, highlighting the urgency of addressing these deficiencies to enhance its effectiveness in flood control and risk mitigation.
As a key asset regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, the Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction in the region. With its strategic location and design by the USDA NRCS, this dam is a testament to the collaborative efforts in water resource management and climate resilience. However, proactive measures must be taken to address its current poor condition and high hazard potential to uphold its role in protecting the community and environment from potential flood events.
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 Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gila River Near Gila | 18 cfs | → |
| Mogollon Creek Near Cliff | 0 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Redrock | 9 cfs | → |
| San Francisco River Near Glenwood | 19 cfs | → |
| Gila River Below Blue Creek | 8 cfs | → |
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam.
Track Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 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 Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam
Where does the data for Upper Gila Valley Site No. 8 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 Gila Valley Site No. 8 Dam.