Melania Dam dam
Melania Dam
Melania Dam, located in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, was completed in 1914 and serves as a vital irrigation source for the region. Managed by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, this earth dam stands at 30 feet tall with a length of 1200 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 456 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Melania Creek, with a spillway width of 27 feet and a maximum discharge of 680 cubic feet per second.
The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, but its condition assessment is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in December 2021. With a risk assessment of moderate, measures for risk management are yet to be fully detailed. The dam's primary purpose is irrigation, highlighting its significance in sustaining agricultural activities in the area. Despite its age, Melania Dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Puerto Rico.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Melania Dam for its historical significance, engineering design, and impact on local ecosystems. As a state-regulated structure with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols in place, the dam represents a collaborative effort to ensure public safety and water security. With ongoing risk assessments and management measures, Melania Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in mitigating the effects of climate change and supporting community resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Melania Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Cerrillos Nr Ponce | 6 cfs | → |
| Rio Inabon At Real Abajo | 14 cfs | → |
| Rio Toa Vaca Abv Lago Toa Vaca | 7 cfs | → |
| Rio Coamo At Hwy 14 At Coamo | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Cerrillos Abv Lago Cerrillos Nr Ponce | 16 cfs | → |
| Rio Portugues Nr Tibes | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Melania Dam.
Campgrounds
Track Melania 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 Melania Dam
Where does the data for Melania 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 Melania Dam.