Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam dam
Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam
Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam, also known as South Bear Canyon Detention Dam, is a critical water management structure located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Constructed in 1956 by Bovay Engineers, Inc., this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet with a structural height of 44 feet, spanning a length of 3061 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation during periods of high discharge.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Office of the State Engineer, the dam has a hazard potential classified as high, with a fair condition assessment as of August 2020. Despite its age, this essential infrastructure continues to play a vital role in water resource management, with a storage capacity of 840 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 36,500 cubic feet per second. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 300 feet wide, helps to manage excess water flow during extreme weather events.
Given its strategic location along the South Fork Bear Canyon Arroyo, Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam serves as a crucial line of defense against potential flooding in the region. With a moderate risk assessment rating and regular inspection schedule, this dam exemplifies the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and public safety 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 Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hahn Arroyo In Albuquerque | · | → |
| N. Floodway Channel At Albuquerque | 0 cfs | → |
| North Floodway Channel Near Alameda | 3 cfs | → |
| Embudo Arroyo At Albuquerque | · | → |
| Rio Grande Nr Alameda | 76 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Albuquerque | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam.
Campgrounds
- Kirtland Afb Military
- Campbell Scout Ranch
- Coronado State Monument
- Coronado
- Cedro Peak Group Campground
- Cedro Group Campground
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 Arroyo Del Oso Detention 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 Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam
Where does the data for Arroyo Del Oso Detention 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 Arroyo Del Oso Detention Dam.