Cerrillos Dam is a rockfill dam located in Ponce County, Puerto Rico, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 323 ft323 ft tall and 1,555 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cerrillos Dam
The primary purpose of Cerrillos 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 Cerrillos River near Ponce.
The dam stands 323 feet tall and stretches 1,555 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 350 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 58,750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 06/16/2021.
At 323 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 | Cerrillos River |
| Coordinates | 18.07623, -66.57743 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 323 ft |
| Dam Height | 323 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,555 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 58,750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 58,750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30,835 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 350 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 75,280 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Natural Resources and Environmental Dept. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | PR82201 |
| Federal ID | PR82201 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |