San Lucas Dam dam
San Lucas Dam
The San Lucas Dam, located in the San Lucas Canyon in rural McKinley, New Mexico, was completed in 1938 by the Soil Conservation Service and is privately owned. The primary purpose of this earth dam is flood risk reduction, with a height of 56 feet and a hydraulic height of 49 feet. The dam has a length of 700 feet and a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 30.6 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition as assessed in 2013, with a moderate risk level. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 132 feet, and the maximum discharge is 8000 cubic feet per second. The last inspection was conducted in 2013, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. The dam's location, design, and historical significance make it a crucial structure for flood risk management in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be fascinated by the San Lucas Dam's design and function in managing flood risks in the San Lucas Canyon. As a privately owned structure regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, the dam's historical significance and current condition present a unique blend of challenges and opportunities for sustainable water management. With its association with the Soil Conservation Service and the potential for future modifications or improvements, the San Lucas Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance water resource needs and environmental conservation 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 San Lucas Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio San Jose Near Grants | 2 cfs | → |
| Arroyo Chico Nr Guadalupe | · | → |
| Rio Puerco Abv Arroyo Chico Nr Guadalupe | 2 cfs | → |
| Rio Nutria Near Ramah | · | → |
| Jemez River Near Jemez | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Lucas Dam.
Campgrounds
- Coal Mine Campground
- Coal Mine Campground & Picnic Area
- Coalmine Canyon
- Lobo Canyon Campground
- Lobo Canyon Picnic Ground
- Lobo Canyon
Fishing spots
Track San Lucas 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 San Lucas Dam
Where does the data for San Lucas 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 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 San Lucas Dam.