Percha Diversion Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Percha Diversion Dam |
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Sierra County, New Mexico |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Opening date | 1918 |
| Owner(s) | United States Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Diversion dam |
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Percha Diversion Dam
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Arrey, New Mexico |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | L.M. Lawson |
| Architectural style | Ogee Weir |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001555 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 6, 1979 |
The Percha Diversion Dam is a special structure built in 1918. It is located on the Rio Grande river in New Mexico, United States. Its main job is to move water from the Rio Grande into a different path. This path is called the Rincon Valley Main Canal, which is used to water farms.
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What is the Percha Diversion Dam?
The Percha Diversion Dam helps farmers grow crops. It takes water from the Rio Grande and sends it to fields that need irrigation. This dam is an important part of how water is managed in the area.
Where is the Dam Located?
The Percha Diversion Dam was finished in 1918. It sits on the Rio Grande, about 21 miles south of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. It is also two miles downstream from another dam called Caballo Dam, which was built later in 1938.
This dam is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit the dam within the Percha Dam State Park. This park is about 80 acres big. It is also known as one of the top five places in New Mexico to watch birds!
How is the Dam Built?
The Percha Diversion Dam is made of strong, reinforced concrete. It is a type of dam called a weir. The main part of the dam is 350 feet long and 18.5 feet tall. If you include the parts that stretch out on the sides, the top of the dam is 2,720 feet long.
The dam has eight special gates called Tainter gates. These gates can lift the river's water level by 6 feet. This makes it easier to send the water into the canal.
What Does the Dam Do?
The Percha Diversion Dam sends water into the Rincon Valley Main Canal. This canal is 27.1 miles long. It carries water to irrigate farms in the Rincon Valley. This valley is located between Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Rincon canal does some interesting things. It crosses over the Rio Grande in a structure called the Garfield Flume. It also goes under the river in places called the Hatch and Rincon siphons.
