Mclead Flood Control Dam dam
Mclead Flood Control Dam
Located in Hatch, New Mexico, the Mclead Flood Control Dam serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along the McLeod & Broadhurst Arroyo. Completed in 1951, this earth dam stands at a height of 17.8 feet with a structural height of 25 feet and a length of 6774 feet. With a storage capacity of 720 acre-feet and a spillway width of 100 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and reducing potential hazards in the region.
Despite its significance in flood control, the Mclead Flood Control Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a high hazard potential. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico, ensuring its compliance with state regulations and enforcement. However, with a risk assessment rating of moderate and an inspection frequency of 5 years, there is a pressing need for improved risk management measures and potential rehabilitation to enhance the dam's effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding area from flood events.
As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Mclead Flood Control Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to mitigate flood risks and protect communities in Doña Ana County. With its historical significance and critical role in water management, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of infrastructure resilience in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water-related challenges.
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 Mclead Flood Control 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 Mclead Flood Control Dam.
Campgrounds
- Percha Dam State Park
- Caballo Lake State Park
- Valles Canyon
- Hillsboro City Rv Park
- Scenic Valley
- Leasburg Dam State Park
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 Mclead Flood Control 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 Mclead Flood Control Dam
Where does the data for Mclead Flood Control 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 Mclead Flood Control Dam.