Cuchillo-Negro Dam dam
Cuchillo-Negro Dam
Cuchillo-Negro Dam, located in Sierra County, New Mexico, is a roller-compacted concrete structure designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to primarily reduce the risk of floods along the Cichillo-Negro Creek. Completed in 1991, this impressive dam stands at a height of 123 feet with a hydraulic height of 105 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 20,500 acre-feet. With a high hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2019, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 800 feet and is regulated by the Office of the State Engineer in New Mexico. The structure is inspected every three years to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness in flood risk reduction. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the Cuchillo-Negro Dam has been instrumental in protecting the surrounding rural businesses and communities from potential flooding events, showcasing the importance of efficient water resource management and infrastructure development in the face of climate challenges.
As a local government-owned facility, the Cuchillo-Negro Dam serves as a key example of collaborative efforts between state and federal agencies to safeguard water resources and enhance climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. With its strategic location and impressive specifications, this dam stands as a testament to the ongoing commitment to sustainable water management practices and the vital role of infrastructure in addressing the impacts of climate change on water resources.
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 Cuchillo-Negro Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Below Elephant Butte Dam | 2,080 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Narrows In Elephant Butte Res. | 33 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande Floodway At San Marcial | · | → |
| Rio Grande Conveyance Channel At San Marcial | 51 cfs | → |
| Mimbres River At Mimbres | 4 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Tularosa | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cuchillo-Negro Dam.
Boat launches
- Rock Canyon Road Sierra County
- Marina Del Sur
- Dam Site Marina
- Monticello Road Sierra County
- Sierra County
Campgrounds
- Elephant Butte Lake State Park
- Luna Park Campground
- Caballo Lake State Park
- Percha Dam State Park
- Springtime
- Springtime Campground
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
- Red John Box To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters To Red John Box
- Headwaters To Junction Of Trails 707/68 (Sec 35, T12s, R11w)
Track Cuchillo-Negro 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 Cuchillo-Negro Dam
Where does the data for Cuchillo-Negro 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 Cuchillo-Negro Dam.