Houston Arroyo Dam dam
Houston Arroyo Dam
Houston Arroyo Dam, located in Valencia, New Mexico, is a privately-owned structure designed by the Bureau of Reclamation to serve the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Houston Arroyo. Completed in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, with a length of 2940 feet and a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet. The dam, regulated by the Office of the State Engineer, has a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in February 2015.
Despite its critical role in flood risk reduction, the Houston Arroyo Dam faces challenges with its condition and hazard potential, indicating a need for maintenance and possibly rehabilitation. The dam's spillway, with a width of 48 feet, is uncontrolled, and the outlet gates consist of Needle - 0 design. The dam's location in an unincorporated area further highlights the importance of ensuring its safety and functionality to protect surrounding communities and the environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the state-regulated nature of the dam, its risk assessment rating of moderate, and the involvement of the Bureau of Reclamation in its design underscores the complex interplay between infrastructure, water management, and safety. With its historical significance dating back over five decades, the Houston Arroyo Dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for proactive maintenance and risk management strategies to safeguard water resources and communities in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Houston Arroyo Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Floodway Near Bernardo | 9 cfs | → |
| Rio Puerco Near Bernardo | · | → |
| Rio Grande At Isleta Lakes Nr Isleta | 45 cfs | → |
| South Div Channel Abv Tijeras Arroyo Nr Albq. | · | → |
| Tijeras Arroyo Nr Albuquerque | · | → |
| San Jose Drain At Woodward Rd At Albq. | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Houston Arroyo Dam.
Track Houston Arroyo 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 Houston Arroyo Dam
Where does the data for Houston Arroyo 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 Houston Arroyo Dam.