Bear Canyon Dam dam
Bear Canyon Dam
Bear Canyon Dam, located in Grant County, New Mexico, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of irrigation. Built in 1937, this earth dam stands at a height of 79 feet, with a hydraulic height of 93.4 feet and a structural height of 99 feet. The dam has a capacity for 1483 acre-feet of water storage, with a normal storage level of 685 acre-feet and a surface area of 35 acres.
The dam spans a length of 270 feet and is situated on Bear Canyon Creek, serving the communities of Mimbres and San Lorenzo. Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the dam continues to be inspected annually by the Office of the State Engineer to ensure its safety and integrity. With its uncontrolled spillway and slide gates for outlet control, Bear Canyon Dam plays a vital role in providing irrigation water for agricultural purposes in the region.
While the dam also supports recreational activities, its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk. Efforts to mitigate potential hazards and manage risks are ongoing, with measures in place to safeguard the dam and surrounding areas. As a key infrastructure for water resource management in the area, Bear Canyon Dam remains a significant component of the local ecosystem and economy, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource practices and climate resilience 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 Bear Canyon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Gila | 18 cfs | → |
| Gila River Near Redrock | 9 cfs | → |
| Mogollon Creek Near Cliff | 0 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Below Elephant Butte Dam | 2,080 cfs | → |
| Gila River Below Blue Creek | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Canyon Dam.
Campgrounds
- Gallinas - Lower
- Gallinas Campground - Upper
- Gallinas - Upper
- Railroad Canyon Campground
- Railroad Canyon
- Iron Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With Las Animas Creek
- Junction Of Water Canyon And Holden Prong To Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary
- Aldo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Junction Of Trails 707/68 (Sec 35, T12s, R11w)
- Headwaters To Confluence With Diamond Creek
- Wilderness Run
Track Bear Canyon 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 Bear Canyon Dam
Where does the data for Bear Canyon 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 Bear Canyon Dam.