Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1
Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 is an earth dam located in Sandoval County, New Mexico, built in 2002. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1
The primary purpose of Enchanted Hills Detention Dam No. 1 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 Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Auth (local government). It impounds the Venada Arroyo-tr near Bernalillo.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 154 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
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 12/04/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Venada Arroyo-tr |
| Coordinates | 35.32140, -106.58150 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,368 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | SOUTHERN SANDOVAL COUNTY ARROYO FLOOD CONTROL AUTH |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/04/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00621 |
| Federal ID | NM00621 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |