Heron Dike
Heron Dike is an earth dam located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Heron Dike
The primary purpose of Heron Dike is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Willow Creek near El Vado.
The dam stands 94 feet tall and stretches 2,405 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,148 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 429,646 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 193 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/28/2020.
At 94 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New Mexico dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Rio Arriba |
| Nearest City | El Vado |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.67380, -106.72530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 94 ft |
| Dam Height | 94 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,405 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 429,646 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 429,646 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 401,317 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,148 acres |
| Drainage Area | 193 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00122 |
| Federal ID | NM00122S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |