Toa Vaca Dam
Toa Vaca Dam is a concrete dam located in Villalba County, Puerto Rico, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Toa Vaca Dam
The primary purpose of Toa Vaca 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 Aqueduct And Sewer Authority (public utility). It impounds the Toa Vaca River near Juana Diaz.
The dam stands 215 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 310 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60,143 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 04/16/2019.
At 215 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 | Toa Vaca River |
| Coordinates | 18.10005, -66.48901 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 215 ft |
| Dam Height | 215 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60,143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60,143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55,888 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 310 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 77,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PUERTO RICO AQUEDUCT AND SEWER AUTHORITY |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00014 |
| Federal ID | PR00014 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |