Upper Fawn Lake Dam dam
Upper Fawn Lake Dam
Upper Fawn Lake Dam, located in MOLYCORP MINE COMPLEX in Taos, New Mexico, is a federal-owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes such as fish and wildlife pond. This earth-type dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet, with a length of 223 feet. It has a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and a surface area of 2 acres, making it an ideal spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy nature and water activities.
Constructed in 1996, Upper Fawn Lake Dam has a controlled spillway type with a width of 2 feet and other controlled outlet gates for efficient water management. Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. Emergency action plans are not documented, but the risk assessment indicates a very high risk level. With its picturesque location and potential for recreational activities, Upper Fawn Lake Dam is a valuable asset in the region for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate.
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 Upper Fawn Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Near Questa | 23 cfs | → |
| Red River Below Fish Hatchery | 32 cfs | → |
| Rio Hondo Near Valdez | 17 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Near Cerro | 99 cfs | → |
| Rio Lucero Near Arroyo Seco | 8 cfs | → |
| Costilla Creek Below Costilla Dam | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Fawn Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Marina Way Eagle Nest
- John Dunn Bridge Boat Takeout
- John Dunn Bridge Boat Launch
- Rio Grande Boat Takeout
- Taos Junction Bridge Taos County
- Taos Junction Bridge Boat Takeout
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Red River Fishing
- Columbine Creek Fishing
- Rio Grande Fishing
- Shuree Lakes Fishing
- Rio Fernando Fishing
- Rio Chiquito Fishing
Track Upper Fawn Lake 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 Upper Fawn Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Fawn Lake 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 Significant 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 Upper Fawn Lake Dam.