Isleta Diversion Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isleta Diversion Dam |
|
|---|---|
Isleta Diversion Dam
|
|
 Location of Isleta Diversion Dam in New Mexico
|
|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Valencia / Bernalillo counties, near Isleta, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 34°54′21″N 106°41′06″W / 34.9057°N 106.6851°W |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Opening date | 1934 |
| Owner(s) | Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Diversion dam |
| Height | 21 feet (6.4 m) |
| Length | 674 feet (205 m) |
| Spillway capacity | 1,070 cubic feet (30 m3) per second |
The Isleta Diversion Dam is a large structure built on the Rio Grande river in New Mexico. It's located near a place called Isleta Village Proper, New Mexico. The main job of this dam is to take water from the river and send it into special channels called irrigation canals. This water is then used to help farms grow crops. While the dam helps with farming, it has also caused some changes to the river and the animals that live there.
How the Isleta Dam Works
The Isleta Diversion Dam is one of three important dams managed by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD). This group helps manage water for farming in the area. The other two dams are the Angostura Diversion Dam and the San Acacia Diversion Dam.
The Isleta Dam is made of strong concrete. It stands about 21 feet (6.4 m) (6.4 meters) tall and stretches 674 feet (205 m) (205 meters) long. It has 30 special gates that can open and close to control the water flow.
This dam can send a lot of water – about 1,070 cubic feet (30 m3) (30 cubic meters) per second – into two main canals: the Peralta Main and Belen Highline Canals. These canals carry water to farms in the Belen area.
The dam was finished in 1934. Later, in 1955, the United States Bureau of Reclamation worked to fix it up and make it even better as part of a bigger project for the Rio Grande.
How the Dam Controls Water Flow
The amount of water in the Rio Grande changes throughout the year. The river usually has the most water between March and June. This is because snow in the mountains melts and flows into the river. This is called the spring runoff.
However, farmers need the most water for their crops later in the year, usually from July to October. During these drier months, the Isleta Dam can take almost all the water out of the Rio Grande. This means the riverbed downstream from the dam can sometimes become very dry.
For example, between 2001 and 2005, the dam diverted a lot of water. In years with plenty of rain, it took about 58% of the water from upstream. In dry years, it took even more, about 91% of the water. This shows how much control the dam has over the river's flow.
The Dam's Effect on Nature
The Isleta Dam has been helpful for people by reducing floods and providing water for farms. But it has also caused some problems for the environment.
Upstream from the dam, the river has become filled with silt, which is like fine mud. Downstream, the river has cut deeper and narrower channels, making the water flow faster. This creates problems for fish that need slower, wider parts of the river to live.
One fish that has been greatly affected is the Rio Grande silvery minnow. This fish used to be very common in the river. But because of dams like Isleta, its home has been broken up into four separate sections. Now, this fish is considered endangered, and its numbers continue to drop.
The dam has also changed the wetlands along the river. These wet areas have dried out, which harms many native plants and animals that depend on them. Also, there have been more wildfires in the area.
To help with these problems, the Isleta Pueblo community and experts are working together. They are making plans to reduce fire risks, protect native plants, and replant trees like cottonwood and willows along the riverbanks. They are also looking for better ways to manage the dam so it can help both people and nature.
