Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam dam
Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam
Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam, also known as Piedra Liza Dam, is a crucial water management structure located in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Built in 1955 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves as a flood risk reduction measure along the Piedra Lisa River. Standing at a height of 52.4 feet with a structural height of 45 feet, the dam has a capacity to store 383 acre-feet of water over a surface area of 31.5 acres.
Regulated by the Office of the State Engineer and inspected every three years, Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam is considered to have a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of November 2016. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 180 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 21,190 cubic feet per second in case of emergencies. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from flooding events and is an essential component of the local water resource infrastructure.
With its critical role in flood risk reduction and water management, Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and the USDA NRCS in safeguarding communities and ecosystems in Sandoval County, New Mexico. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and proper management of dams like Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 will be crucial in adapting to the evolving hydrological challenges and ensuring the resilience of water infrastructure in the region.
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 Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Floodway Channel Near Alameda | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At San Felipe | 532 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Nr Alameda | 49 cfs | → |
| Hahn Arroyo In Albuquerque | · | → |
| N. Floodway Channel At Albuquerque | 0 cfs | → |
| Embudo Arroyo At Albuquerque | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Coronado State Monument
- Coronado
- Campbell Scout Ranch
- Kirtland Afb Military
- Cedro Peak Group Campground
- Cedro Peak Camping Sites - Robin And Jay
Fishing spots
- La Junta Fishing Site
- Las Casitas Fishing Site
- San Diego Fishing Site
- River's Bend Fishing Site
- Bluffs Fishing Site
- Rincon Fishing Site
Track Sandia Mountain 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 Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam
Where does the data for Sandia Mountain 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 Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam.