Lucchetti Dam
Lucchetti Dam is a gravity dam located in Yauco County, Puerto Rico, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lucchetti Dam
The primary purpose of Lucchetti Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (public utility). It impounds the Yauco River near Yauco.
The dam stands 169 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 266 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 09/03/2020.
At 169 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 Puerto Rico 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 | Puerto Rico |
| County | Yauco |
| Nearest City | Yauco |
| River/Stream | Yauco River |
| Coordinates | 18.09179, -66.86453 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 169 ft |
| Dam Height | 169 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 266 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 62,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PUERTO RICO ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/03/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00003 |
| Federal ID | PR00003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |