Brantley dam
Brantley
Brantley Dam, located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, along the Pecos River, is a federal structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for flood risk reduction, irrigation, and recreation purposes. This concrete arch dam, completed in 1989, stands at a height of 144 feet and has a storage capacity of 966,300 acre-feet. With a hazard potential rated as high and risk assessment categorized as very high, Brantley Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential risks in the region.
The dam's impressive dimensions include a hydraulic height of 108 feet, a length of 20,850 feet, and a spillway width of 350 feet. Its primary purpose of flood risk reduction underscores its vital role in protecting surrounding areas from potential flooding events. Brantley Dam's strategic location and design make it a key infrastructure for water resource management in Eddy County, New Mexico, with a drainage area of 16,406 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 352,000 cubic feet per second.
As a federal structure owned and regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation, Brantley Dam undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Its very high risk assessment highlights the importance of proactive risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment. With its significant storage capacity and flood risk reduction capabilities, Brantley Dam stands as a critical asset for water resource management and climate resilience 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 Brantley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecos River Below Brantley Dam Near Carlsbad | 233 cfs | → |
| Rocky Arroyo At Hwy Brd Nr Carlsbad | · | → |
| Pecos R At Damsite 3 Nr Carlsbad | 206 cfs | → |
| South Seven Rivers Nr Lakewood | · | → |
| Pecos River Below Avalon Dam | · | → |
| Carlsbad Main Canal At Head Near Carlsbad | 162 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brantley.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Brantley Lake State Park
- Avalon Resevoir Campground
- Alkali Lake Ohv Dispersed
- Windmill Rv Park
- Dark Canyon Dispersed
- Hackberry Lake Ohv Dispersed
Paddle runs
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land Along Sitting Bull Canyon In Sec 19, T24s, R22e To Eastern Nf Boundary
- Pine Canyon (East Of Private Land In Sec 26, T24s, R21e) To Confluence Of Sitting Bull Canyon And Last Chance Canyon
- Headwaters Of Channel In Sec 9, T24s, R22e To Sitting Bull Canyon
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land In Sec 2, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Confluence Of Turkey Canyon And Robinson Draw (Sec 33, T24s, R22e) To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Headwaters In Sec 12, T25s, R22e To Payne Canyon In Sec 1, T25s, R22e
Track Brantley 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 Brantley
Where does the data for Brantley 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 Brantley.