Santa Cruz Dam dam
Santa Cruz Dam
Santa Cruz Dam, located in Chimayo, New Mexico, is a gravity dam constructed in 1929 for irrigation purposes on the Santa Cruz River. Managed by the local government, the dam stands at a height of 124 feet with a hydraulic height of 93.4 feet and a structural height of 146.5 feet. It has a storage capacity of 5948 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 3546.4 acre-feet.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 502 feet, is uncontrolled, and the maximum discharge capacity is 147,970 cubic feet per second. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as high, although its condition assessment as of May 2020 was deemed satisfactory. Despite the moderate risk level, the dam has not been modified in recent years and is inspected annually to ensure its safety and functionality.
Santa Cruz Dam plays a crucial role in providing irrigation water to the surrounding area and also offers recreational opportunities. With a detailed history of construction and design by CHAS JOHNSTONE & USBR, the dam is regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico. Climate and water enthusiasts interested in the intersection of water resource management and dam infrastructure will find Santa Cruz Dam an intriguing case study in sustainable water management practices.
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 Santa Cruz Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz River Near Cundiyo | 12 cfs | → |
| Rio Nambe Above Nambe Falls Dam Near Nambe | 36 cfs | → |
| Rio Nambe Below Nambe Falls Dam Near Nambe | 5 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Near Chamita | 108 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Otowi Bridge | 238 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Embudo | 226 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Cruz Dam.
Boat launches
- Santa Cruz Lake Boat Ramp
- Santa Cruz Lake Road Santa Fe County
- County Line Boat Launch
- County Line Boat Takeout
- De Norte Bridge Las Cruces New Mexico Access Point
- Quartzite Boat Takeout
Campgrounds
- North Lake - Santa Cruz Lake
- Northlake Campground
- Santa Cruz Lake Overlook Campground
- Overlook - Santa Cruz Lake
- Gorham Scout Ranch
- Borrego Mesa
Fishing spots
- Rio Trampas Fishing
- Trampas Lakes Fishing
- Windsor Creek
- Cowles Ponds Fishing Site
- Cowles Ponds
- Dalton Fishing
Paddle runs
Track Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Dam
Where does the data for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Dam.