Grady Hamilton dam
Grady Hamilton
Grady Hamilton, located in Rio Arriba, New Mexico, is a Federal-owned dam managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This Earth dam stands at a structural height of 27 feet and has a length of 400 feet, with a storage capacity of 118 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Rio Chama -TR river, within the Albuquerque District of New Mexico.
Despite its critical purpose in water resource management, Grady Hamilton has a high hazard potential and is in need of regular inspections, with the last recorded inspection dating back to July 2012. The condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available", highlighting the importance of monitoring and maintenance for the safety of surrounding communities and the environment. With its unsurveyed location and limited risk management measures in place, there is a need for continued attention to ensure the dam's stability and functionality in the face of changing climate patterns.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Grady Hamilton serves as a noteworthy case study in the intersection of infrastructure management and environmental sustainability. As the dam's future remains uncertain without recent condition assessments or emergency action plans, there is an opportunity for stakeholders to advocate for increased monitoring and risk mitigation strategies. Understanding the potential impacts of climate change on water infrastructure, such as dams like Grady Hamilton, is crucial in safeguarding our communities and ecosystems for generations to come.
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 Grady Hamilton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 173 cfs | → |
| Navajo River Bl Oso Diversion Dam Nr Chromo | 92 cfs | → |
| Navajo R At Banded Peak Ranch | 267 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below El Vado Dam | 156 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Near Mogote | 922 cfs | → |
| Rio Blanco Bl Blanco Div Dam | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grady Hamilton.
Campgrounds
- Heron Lake State Park
- Lower Lagunitas
- Lagunitas
- Upper Lagunitas / Lower Lagunitas Campgrounds
- Upper Lagunitas
- Trujillo Meadows Campground
Fishing spots
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
- Trujillo Meadows Boating Site
- Trujillo Meadows Lake
- Hidden Lakes Fishing
- Rio Nutritas Fishing
- La Manga Creek (Beaver Ponds)
Paddle runs
- Lower Branch--Sec 28, T33n, R3e; Upper Branch--Sec 15, T33n, R3e To Sec 7, T32n, R4e
- Tierra Amarilla Grant Boundary To Colorado Stateline
- Headwaters To Rio San Antonio
- Sec 23, T32n, R5e To Sec 20, T32n, R6e (Co/Nm State Line)
- Dipping Lakes--Sec 5, T33n, R4e To Confluence With West Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
- Sec 1, T33n, R3e To Confluence With East Fork--Sec 17, T33n, R4e
Track Grady Hamilton 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 Grady Hamilton
Where does the data for Grady Hamilton 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 Grady Hamilton.