Smith

About Smith

The primary purpose of Smith is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Trinchera Irrigation Co. (tracy Kester) (private). It impounds the Trinchera Creek near Arroya Hondo, Nm.

The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 585 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 587 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,058 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 351 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 06/23/2022.

At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.

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