Six Mile Power Dam dam
Six Mile Power Dam
Six Mile Power Dam, located in Eddy, New Mexico, is a gravity dam built in 1905 on the Pecos River. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 800 feet, it serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 70 acres and a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet. The dam is owned and regulated by the local government, with oversight from the Office of the State Engineer.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is rated as being in poor condition and has not been inspected since February 2016. The risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, highlighting the need for improved maintenance and safety measures. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 600 feet, and it is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor its condition and potential impact on the surrounding area.
As a historical landmark on the Pecos River, Six Mile Power Dam offers a glimpse into the region's past while also serving as a recreational hub for locals and visitors alike. Its location in a rural area adds to its charm, but it also underscores the importance of regular maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety of the dam and the surrounding community.
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 Six Mile Power Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecos River Below Dark Canyon At Carlsbad | 9 cfs | → |
| Dark Canyon At Carlsbad | · | → |
| Pecos River Below Avalon Dam | · | → |
| Carlsbad Main Canal At Head Near Carlsbad | 162 cfs | → |
| Black River Above Malaga | 4 cfs | → |
| Pecos River Near Malaga | 72 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Six Mile Power Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Windmill Rv Park
- Alkali Lake Ohv Dispersed
- Avalon Resevoir Campground
- Dark Canyon Dispersed
- Hackberry Lake Ohv Dispersed
- Brantley Lake State Park
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of Turkey Canyon And Robinson Draw (Sec 33, T24s, R22e) To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land In Sec 2, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Turkey And Dark Canyons In Sec 26, T24s, R22e
- Eastern Boundary Of Private Land Along Sitting Bull Canyon In Sec 19, T24s, R22e To Eastern Nf Boundary
- Pine Canyon (East Of Private Land In Sec 26, T24s, R21e) To Confluence Of Sitting Bull Canyon And Last Chance Canyon
- Headwaters In Sec 12, T25s, R22e To Payne Canyon In Sec 1, T25s, R22e
- Headwaters Of Channel In Sec 9, T24s, R22e To Sitting Bull Canyon
Track Six Mile Power 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 Six Mile Power Dam
Where does the data for Six Mile Power 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 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 Six Mile Power Dam.