Garzas Dam
Garzas Dam is an earth dam located in Adjuntas County, Puerto Rico, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Garzas Dam
The primary purpose of Garzas Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (public utility). It impounds the Vacas River near Adjuntas.
The dam stands 201 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 108 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1943, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/02/2019.
At 201 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 | Adjuntas |
| Nearest City | Adjuntas |
| River/Stream | Vacas River |
| Coordinates | 18.13722, -66.74088 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 201 ft |
| Dam Height | 201 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 108 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | PUERTO RICO ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00006 |
| Federal ID | PR00006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |