Portugues Dam
Portugues Dam is a concrete dam located in Ponce County, Puerto Rico, built in 2015. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Portugues Dam
The primary purpose of Portugues Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Natural Resources And Environmental Dept. (state). It impounds the Portugues River near Ponce.
The dam stands 220 feet tall and stretches 1,230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 46,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 2015, the structure is relatively new.
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 06/15/2021.
At 220 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 | Ponce |
| Nearest City | Ponce |
| River/Stream | Portugues River |
| Coordinates | 18.06244, -66.63324 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 220 ft |
| Dam Height | 220 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,230 ft |
| Year Completed | 2015 (11 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 46,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 46,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 46,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPT. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR00079 |
| Federal ID | PR00079 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |