Guayabal Dam
Guayabal Dam is a buttress dam located in Villalba County, Puerto Rico, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Guayabal Dam
The primary purpose of Guayabal Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico (state). It impounds the Jacaguas River near Juana Diaz.
The dam stands 130 feet tall and stretches 1,978 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 373 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 42 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/21/2021.
At 130 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 | Villalba |
| Nearest City | Juana Diaz |
| River/Stream | Jacaguas River |
| Coordinates | 18.08681, -66.50405 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,978 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,297 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 373 acres |
| Drainage Area | 42 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 72,744 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/21/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00013 |
| Federal ID | PR00013 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |