Green Canyon Dam dam
Green Canyon Dam
Green Canyon Dam, also known as S.G.J.C. Site 1a, is a vital structure located in Sierra, New Mexico, owned and regulated by the local government. Built in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 104 feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Rio Grande - TR. With a storage capacity of 6400 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding.
Despite its important role, Green Canyon Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in 2015 highlighted the need for improvements and maintenance to ensure the dam's structural integrity and overall safety. As a site regulated by the Office of the State Engineer and subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, efforts are underway to address the dam's condition and mitigate any risks associated with its operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Green Canyon Dam stands as a symbol of both the challenges and opportunities in managing water infrastructure. With a moderate risk assessment and a history of flood risk reduction, the dam represents a critical piece of the water management puzzle in New Mexico. As discussions continue on the future of water resources and climate adaptation, Green Canyon Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable infrastructure and proactive maintenance to safeguard our communities and environment.
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 Green Canyon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Below Elephant Butte Dam | 2,080 cfs | → |
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Narrows In Elephant Butte Res. | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Green Canyon Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Percha Dam State Park
- Caballo Lake State Park
- Hillsboro City Rv Park
- Valles Canyon
- Kingston
- Kingston Campground
Paddle runs
- Aldo Wilderness Boundary To Nf Boundary
- Junction Of Water Canyon And Holden Prong To Aldo Leopold Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters To Confluence With Las Animas Creek
- Headwaters To Junction Of Trails 707/68 (Sec 35, T12s, R11w)
- Headwaters To Confluence With Diamond Creek
Track Green 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 Green Canyon Dam
Where does the data for Green 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 Green Canyon Dam.