Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam
Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam
The primary purpose of Sandia Mountain Site No. 1 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Coronado Soil & Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Piedra Lisa near Bernalillo.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,030 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 383 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/15/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sandoval |
| Nearest City | Bernalillo |
| River/Stream | Piedra Lisa |
| Coordinates | 35.31370, -106.52880 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,030 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 383 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 383 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,190 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CORONADO SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00278 |
| Federal ID | NM00278 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |