Smithson Reservoir No. 3 dam
Smithson Reservoir No. 3
Smithson Reservoir No. 3, located in Union County, New Mexico, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1970 primarily for irrigation purposes on Tramperos Creek. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 780 feet, this reservoir has a storage capacity of 255 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding agricultural lands. The dam is regulated by the Office of the State Engineer and has a low hazard potential, although its condition assessment is rated as poor.
Despite its poor condition, Smithson Reservoir No. 3 plays a crucial role in water management and irrigation in the region, holding a normal storage capacity of 117 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 16 acres. The reservoir has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating the need for regular inspections and potential risk management measures. The dam's last inspection in 2015 revealed its poor condition, highlighting the importance of maintaining and upgrading this essential water resource infrastructure for the community's sustainability and climate resilience.
As a significant water storage facility in a rural area, Smithson Reservoir No. 3 serves as a vital resource for the local community and agriculture. With its location on Tramperos Creek and controlled by the State Engineer, this earth dam represents a key piece of water infrastructure in Union County. To ensure its continued functionality and safety, ongoing assessments, maintenance, and potential risk management measures are essential to protect this valuable resource for both water supply and climate adaptation efforts 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 Smithson Reservoir No. 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cramer Ck At Us Hwy 54 Nr Dalhart | · | → |
| Ute Creek Near Logan | · | → |
| Canadian River At Logan | 3 cfs | → |
| Revuelto Creek Near Logan | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smithson Reservoir No. 3.
Track Smithson Reservoir No. 3 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 Smithson Reservoir No. 3
Where does the data for Smithson Reservoir No. 3 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 Low 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 Smithson Reservoir No. 3.