Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2 dam
Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2
Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2, located in Mora, New Mexico, was completed in 1950 and serves a primary purpose of irrigation. This private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a structural height of 25 feet, with a length of 1933 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 6510 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 405 acres, drawing water from the Mora River-OS.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2014 rated it as poor. The inspection frequency is every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in November 2014. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. The state of New Mexico regulates the dam, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement all conducted by the Office of the State Engineer.
Overall, Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2 plays a crucial role in irrigation in the region, but its poor condition and moderate risk highlight the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of the water resource infrastructure in the area. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam's history and current state a compelling subject for further study and advocacy.
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 Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mora River At La Cueva | 5 cfs | → |
| Coyote Creek Near Golondrinas | 1 cfs | → |
| Mora River Near Golondrinas | 7 cfs | → |
| Gallinas Creek Near Montezuma | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Pueblo Nr Penasco | 6 cfs | → |
| Rio Mora Near Terrero | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2.
Campgrounds
- Morphy Lake State Park
- Coyote Creek State Park
- Upper La Junta Campground
- Upper La Junta
- Duran
- Duran Canyon
Fishing spots
- Trampas Lakes Fishing
- Rio Trampas Fishing
- Cowles Ponds
- Cowles Ponds Fishing Site
- Windsor Creek
- Rito De La Olla Fishing
Track Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2 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 Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2
Where does the data for Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2 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 Low 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 Red Lake La Cueva Dam No. 2.