Santa Rosa Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Rosa Dam |
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Santa Rosa Dam and Reservoir
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 Location of Santa Rosa Dam in New Mexico
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Guadalupe County, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 35°01′42″N 104°41′19″W / 35.0283°N 104.6886°W |
| Purpose | Irrigation and flood control |
| Opening date | 1979 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Height | 214 feet (65 m) |
| Length | 1,900 feet (580 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 717,000 acre-feet (884,000,000 m3) |
| Surface area | 26 square miles (67 km2) |
The Santa Rosa Dam (National ID # NM00185) is a large dam located in Guadalupe County, New Mexico. It helps control floods and stores water for farms. This important structure is built on the Pecos River.
The dam is made of earth and was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It stands 214 feet tall, which is about as high as a 20-story building. The top of the dam is 1900 feet long, which is longer than five football fields!
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Building the Santa Rosa Dam
The idea for this dam first came up in 1951. It was officially approved in 1954. Back then, it was known as the Los Esteros project.
Early Challenges and Solutions
Building the dam wasn't easy. Some local groups, like the Fort Sumner Irrigation District, were worried. An irrigation district helps deliver water to farms. They depended on the Pecos River for their crops. They were concerned that the new dam would cause more water to evaporate. This would mean less water for their farms.
To solve this problem, an agreement was reached in 1971. It was decided to store less water permanently in the lake. This helped make sure there was still enough water for everyone.
Construction and Name Change
Construction of the dam began in 1974. It took five years to build, finishing in 1979. The year after it was completed, the dam and the lake were given new names. They became known as Santa Rosa Dam and Santa Rosa Lake.
Santa Rosa Lake: A Place for Fun
The dam creates a large body of water called Santa Rosa Lake. This lake covers about 26 square miles when it's full. That's a huge area, perfect for many activities!
Lake Size and Water Storage
Santa Rosa Lake can hold a lot of water. Its largest capacity is 717,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep. This huge amount of water helps control floods and provides water for irrigation.
Recreation and Activities
Santa Rosa Lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun. Many people visit the nearby Santa Rosa Lake State Park. Here are some things you can do:
- Fishing: The lake is home to different kinds of fish. You can try to catch largemouth bass, catfish, and walleye.
- Boating: With such a large lake, boating is a favorite activity.
- Camping: You can set up a tent or park an RV and enjoy the outdoors.
- Other Activities: There are also other ways to have fun, like hiking and enjoying nature.
