Saltpeter Creek Site 1a dam
Saltpeter Creek Site 1a
Located in Maxwell, New Mexico, Saltpeter Creek Site 1a, also known as Saltpeter Retard Dam, is a local government-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Saltpeter Creek. Completed in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 72 feet and spans 2095 feet, with a storage capacity of 2226 acre-feet and a surface area of 65 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Saltpeter Creek Site 1a is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico. With a spillway width of 600 feet and a maximum discharge of 1100 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in managing flood risks in the region. However, it is in need of attention and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood control.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Saltpeter Creek Site 1a intriguing for its historical significance, engineering design, and vital role in flood risk reduction along Saltpeter Creek. As a key infrastructure in the area, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring our water resources to address the challenges posed by changing climate patterns and extreme weather events.
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 Saltpeter Creek Site 1a -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vermejo River Near Dawson | 3 cfs | → |
| Eagle Tail Ditch Nr Maxwell | · | → |
| Ponil Creek Near Cimarron | 0 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 12 cfs | → |
| Rayado Creek Near Cimarron | 3 cfs | → |
| Canadian River Near Taylor Springs | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saltpeter Creek Site 1a.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Shuree Lakes Fishing
- Trinidad Reservoir
- Red River Fishing
- Monument Reservoir (Trinidad)
- Columbine Creek Fishing
- North Lake
Paddle runs
Track Saltpeter Creek Site 1a 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 Saltpeter Creek Site 1a
Where does the data for Saltpeter Creek Site 1a 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 Saltpeter Creek Site 1a.