Conchas Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conchas Dam |
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| Country | United States |
| Location | San Miguel County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 35°24′11″N 104°11′26″W / 35.40306°N 104.19056°W |
| Construction began | 1935 |
| Opening date | 1939 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Canadian River |
| Height | 235 ft (72 m) |
| Length | 19,500 ft (5,900 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Conchas Lake |
| Total capacity | 709,119 acre⋅ft (874,685 dam3) |
| Catchment area | 7,409 sq mi (19,190 km2) |
| Surface area | 16,033 acres (6,488 ha) (max) |
The Conchas Dam is a large structure built across the Canadian River in New Mexico, United States. It is located in San Miguel County, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Santa Rosa. This important dam creates a big lake called Conchas Lake.
Conchas Dam is made of concrete and earth. It stands 235 feet (72 m) (about 72 meters) tall. The dam is very long, stretching 19,500 feet (5,900 m) (nearly 6 kilometers) across the river valley. Its main jobs are to control floods and provide water for farming. The dam is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contents
Building Conchas Dam
Why the Dam Was Built
The idea for Conchas Dam first came up in the early 1930s. At first, the project was not approved. This was because the dam's location was far away from cities. Also, the country was going through the Great Depression, a time when many people did not have jobs or money.
Starting Construction
Things changed in 1935 with a new law called the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. This law helped create many public projects in New Mexico. These projects gave jobs to people who were unemployed. Building the dam was one of these important projects.
Work began on the dam site in 1935. The actual construction of the dam started in 1936. By 1939, the dam was finished. It cost about $15.8 million to build.
How Conchas Dam Works
Storing Water in Conchas Lake
Conchas Dam holds back a large amount of water in Conchas Lake. There is a permanent pool of water that measures 61,532 acre-feet (75,899 dam3). This is the normal amount of water always in the lake.
During heavy rains, the dam can hold much more water to prevent floods. Its maximum flood-control capacity is 709,119 acre-feet (874,685 dam3).
Lake Size and Purpose
When the water level is normal, Conchas Lake covers an area of 2,694 acres (1,090 ha). When the lake is completely full from floodwaters, its surface area can grow to 16,033 acres (6,488 ha).
The dam and its lake are a key part of the Tucumcari Irrigation Project. Water from the dam is sent through about 300 miles (480 km) (480 kilometers) of canals. These canals help water 41,400 acres (16,800 ha) (about 16,750 hectares) of farmland. This land is in the Canadian River valley.
Managing the Water System
The irrigation system was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This happened between 1940 and 1942. In 1954, the system was given to the Arch Hurley Conservancy District. They now manage the water supply for the farms.
