El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 dam
El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5
El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5, located in San Juan, New Mexico, was completed in 1964 and serves as a recreational destination along Stevens Arroyo. This earth dam stands at a height of 27.5 feet, with a structural height of 41.5 feet and a length of 566 feet. With a storage capacity of 42.1 acre-feet and a surface area of 6 acres, the dam provides opportunities for water-based activities in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Office of the State Engineer, El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 has a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in 2015. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 239 cubic feet per second. While the risk assessment for the dam is rated as moderate, appropriate risk management measures are in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
Given its strategic location in Fruitland, El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 not only offers recreational opportunities but also plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a valuable asset for both residents and visitors, highlighting the intersection of water conservation, climate resilience, and outdoor recreation 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| La Plata River Near Farmington | 0 cfs | → |
| San Juan River At Farmington | 729 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Farmington | 510 cfs | → |
| La Plata River At La Plata | 0 cfs | → |
| San Juan River At Shiprock | 568 cfs | → |
| Animas River Below Aztec | 601 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5
Where does the data for El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5 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 El Paso Natural Gas Dam No. 5.