Cimarroncito Dam dam
Cimarroncito Dam
Cimarroncito Dam, located in Colfax County, New Mexico, is a key water supply infrastructure managed by the local government. Built in 1948, this earth dam stands at a height of 58 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply for the surrounding area. With a storage capacity of 189 acre-feet and a drainage area of 8.97 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow along the Cimarroncito Creek.
Despite its importance, Cimarroncito Dam is facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, with a poor rating and a high hazard potential. The dam's last inspection in August 2020 highlighted these concerns, raising the need for immediate attention and potential risk management measures. The dam's spillway type is listed as uncontrolled, with a width of 88 feet, and it is regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the critical role of infrastructure like Cimarroncito Dam is vital for sustainable water management in the region. Efforts to improve its condition, address hazard potential, and ensure effective risk management will be essential to safeguarding its functionality and the surrounding community's water supply in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Cimarroncito Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cimarron River Near Cimarron | 13 cfs | → |
| Ponil Creek Near Cimarron | 1 cfs | → |
| Rayado Creek Near Cimarron | 4 cfs | → |
| Cimarron River Below Eagle Nest Dam | 12 cfs | → |
| Vermejo River Near Dawson | 3 cfs | → |
| Rio Pueblo De Taos Near Taos | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cimarroncito Dam.
Campgrounds
- Cathedral Rock Camp
- Hunting Lodge
- Clarks Fork Camp
- Cimarroncito
- Upper Clarks Fork Camp
- Ponderosa Park Camp
Fishing spots
- Shuree Lakes Fishing
- Red River Fishing
- Rio Fernando Fishing
- Columbine Creek Fishing
- Rio Chiquito Fishing
- Rito De La Olla Fishing
Track Cimarroncito 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 Cimarroncito Dam
Where does the data for Cimarroncito 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 Cimarroncito Dam.