Jemez Canyon Dam dam
Jemez Canyon Dam
Jemez Canyon Dam, also known as Jemez Canyon Reservoir, is a Federal-owned structure in Bernalillo, New Mexico, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Completed in 1953, the dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Jemez River, with a capacity of 264,700 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 319,300 cubic feet per second. The dam stands at 150 feet tall and 870 feet long, with a surface area of 1,396 acres.
Despite its successful flood risk reduction efforts, the Jemez Canyon Dam project still poses a high hazard potential due to the possibility of uncontrolled spillway flow during emergency operations. A risk assessment conducted in 2015 identified a moderate annual probability of dam breach due to spillway erosion, which could lead to catastrophic downstream damages to communities along the Rio Grande to Elephant Butte Lake. To manage this risk, the US Army Corps of Engineers implements various measures such as routine inspections, maintenance activities, and risk communication efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam and surrounding areas.
In conclusion, while Jemez Canyon Dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction in the region, the potential for a dam breach during extreme events remains a concern. Through ongoing risk management measures and maintenance activities, the US Army Corps of Engineers strives to mitigate these risks and ensure the safety of the communities downstream of the dam. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about the dam's condition and emergency action plans is vital to understanding and addressing potential risks associated with this important infrastructure.
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 Jemez Canyon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande At San Felipe | 532 cfs | → |
| North Floodway Channel Near Alameda | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Nr Alameda | 218 cfs | → |
| Hahn Arroyo In Albuquerque | · | → |
| Galisteo Creek Below Galisteo Dam | · | → |
| N. Floodway Channel At Albuquerque | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jemez Canyon Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Coronado
- Coronado State Monument
- Ojito Wilderness Dispersed
- Campbell Scout Ranch
- Cochiti - Cochiti Lake
- Paliza 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 Jemez Canyon 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 Jemez Canyon Dam
Where does the data for Jemez Canyon 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 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 Jemez Canyon Dam.