Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 dam
Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1
Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1, located in Bernalillo, New Mexico, is a crucial structure designed by Huitt-Zollars, Inc. to mitigate flood risks along the Venada Arroyo-TR stream. Completed in 2002, this earth dam stands at 19.5 feet high with a structural height of 27.5 feet, serving as a vital flood risk reduction measure in Sandoval County. With a drainage area of 3.7 square miles, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 4,368 cubic feet per second, ensuring effective flood control during heavy rainfall events.
This dam, owned and regulated by the local government and the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, has a high hazard potential but is in satisfactory condition according to a recent assessment. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and lack of outlet gates, Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 has a storage capacity of 154.6 acre-feet and plays a crucial role in protecting nearby communities from potential flooding. Its location, design, and operational efficiency make it a valuable asset in the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts.
As a key flood risk reduction infrastructure in the region, Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 has undergone regular inspections and updates to ensure its effectiveness and safety. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a history of meeting regulatory guidelines, this dam stands as a testament to effective water management practices in New Mexico. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, structures like Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 play a vital role in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the threats of flooding and water scarcity.
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 Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Floodway Channel Near Alameda | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Nr Alameda | 49 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At San Felipe | 532 cfs | → |
| Hahn Arroyo In Albuquerque | · | → |
| N. Floodway Channel At Albuquerque | 0 cfs | → |
| Embudo Arroyo At Albuquerque | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Coronado State Monument
- Coronado
- Campbell Scout Ranch
- Kirtland Afb Military
- Ojito Wilderness Dispersed
- Cedro Peak Group Campground
Fishing spots
- La Junta Fishing Site
- Las Casitas Fishing Site
- San Diego Fishing Site
- River's Bend Fishing Site
- Bluffs Fishing Site
- Rincon Fishing Site
Track Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 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 Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1
Where does the data for Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 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 Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1.