Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam dam
Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam
Fort Heron Preserve Phase II Dam, located in El Vado, New Mexico, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1996 by designer Marvin R. Kortum. This recreational dam, situated on the Rio Chama - TR river, stands at a height of 30.5 feet and has a length of 240 feet, with a storage capacity of 17.82 acre-feet. The dam serves a primary purpose of providing a fish and wildlife pond, as well as recreational opportunities for visitors.
Maintained and regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, Fort Heron Preserve Phase II Dam has a low hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2013. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet and outlet gates equipped with a valve system. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam has not been modified in recent years and undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting the Tierra Amarilla Grant area can appreciate the recreational and ecological benefits provided by Fort Heron Preserve Phase II Dam. With its scenic surroundings and important role in enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, this dam stands as a testament to responsible water management practices and the preservation of natural resources 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 Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 169 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below El Vado Dam | 156 cfs | → |
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 89 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Above Abiquiu Reservoir | 145 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 197 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam | 177 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam.
Campgrounds
- Heron Lake State Park
- El Vado Lake State Park
- Stone Lake
- Trout Lakes
- Trout Lakes Campground
- Canjilon Lakes
Fishing spots
- Rio Nutritas Fishing
- Hidden Lakes Fishing
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
- Rio Chama Fishing
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
- Trujillo Meadows Lake
Track Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii 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 Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam
Where does the data for Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii 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 Fort Heron Preserve Phase Ii Dam.