Upper Trout Lake Dam dam
Upper Trout Lake Dam
Upper Trout Lake Dam, located in Rio Arriba, New Mexico, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the USDA Forest Service. Built in 1950, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 20 feet and serves primarily for recreation purposes, including fish and wildlife pond activities. With a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres, the dam is situated on the TR Nutrias Creek near PVT Ranch.
The dam's spillway is controlled and has a width of 2 feet, while the outlet gates are of the "Other Controlled" type. Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated as of the last inspection in September 2009. The risk assessment for Upper Trout Lake Dam indicates a very high risk level, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and integrity for both water resource and climate enthusiasts.
In conclusion, Upper Trout Lake Dam offers a recreational oasis in the midst of New Mexico's natural beauty, providing a serene setting for outdoor activities. While its risk potential is deemed significant, continued efforts by the Forest Service and other relevant authorities are essential to safeguard the dam and its surrounding environment. For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Upper Trout Lake Dam serves as a fascinating case study in balancing recreational enjoyment with the need for responsible infrastructure maintenance.
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 Upper Trout Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Chama Near La Puente | 161 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below El Vado Dam | 156 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Above Abiquiu Reservoir | 145 cfs | → |
| Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam | 216 cfs | → |
| Rio Ojo Caliente At La Madera | 9 cfs | → |
| Conejos River Near Mogote | 739 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Trout Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Rio Nutritas Fishing
- Hidden Lakes Fishing
- El Rito Creek Fishing
- Lagunitas Creek Fishing
- Rio Chama Fishing
- Rio Vallecitos Fishing
Track Upper Trout Lake 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 Upper Trout Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Trout Lake 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 Significant 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 Upper Trout Lake Dam.