Coamo Dam
Coamo Dam is a buttress dam located in Santa Isabel County, Puerto Rico, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Coamo Dam
The primary purpose of Coamo 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 Coamo River near Santa Isabel.
The dam stands 65 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 145 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,380 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 66 square miles. Completed in 1914, 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 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 08/22/2019.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Santa Isabel |
| Nearest City | Santa Isabel |
| River/Stream | Coamo River |
| Coordinates | 18.01449, -66.39014 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Drainage Area | 66 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 60,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00016 |
| Federal ID | PR00016 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |