Los Alamos Canyon Dam dam
Los Alamos Canyon Dam
Los Alamos Canyon Dam, also known as Los Alamos Ranch School Dam No. 1, is a local government-owned structure located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Built in 1943 by Carlos Powell and URS Corporation, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 49.4 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 74 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is to serve as a water supply source, with a normal storage volume of 25.4 acre-feet.
Situated on the Los Alamos Canyon river, this dam not only provides water for the surrounding area but also offers recreational opportunities. The dam has a spillway width of 90 feet and a high hazard potential rating due to its structural characteristics. Despite being last inspected in 2017 and deemed to be in satisfactory condition, the dam is subject to regular inspections, with a frequency of one inspection per year to ensure its safety and functionality. With a moderate risk assessment rating, it is clear that Los Alamos Canyon Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Los Alamos Canyon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rito De Los Frijoles In Bandelier Nat Mon | 1 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Otowi Bridge | 257 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Below Cochiti Dam | 214 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Near Chamita | 114 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River Above Cochiti Lake | 1 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam | 177 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Los Alamos Canyon Dam.
Boat launches
- Tetilla Peak Campground Sandoval County
- Cochiti Lake Road Sandoval County
- Santa Cruz Lake Road Santa Fe County
- Santa Cruz Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Ponderosa Reservation Group Campground
- Santa Clara Canyon Campground
- Juniper - Bandelier National Monument
- Las Conchas
- Jemez Falls Campground
- Jemez Falls
Fishing spots
- Dark Canyon Fishing Site
- Rincon Fishing Site
- Bluffs Fishing Site
- River's Bend Fishing Site
- San Diego Fishing Site
- Las Casitas Fishing Site
Track Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos Canyon Dam
Where does the data for Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos Canyon Dam.