Home > New Mexico > Santa%25252525252525252BFe > Two Mile Reservoir, Santa Fe River, intersection of Canyon & Cerro Gor, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, NM
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Item Title
Two Mile Reservoir, Santa Fe River, intersection of Canyon & Cerro Gor, Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, NM
Locationintersection of Canyon & Cerro Gor,
Santa%25252525252525252BFe, NM
Find maps of Santa%25252525252525252BFe, NM
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.
Notes
Survey number HAER NM-5
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (N673).
Building/structure dates:
1893 initial construction
Building/structure dates:
1972 subsequent work
Building/structure dates:
1994 demolished
Significance: Two Mile Dam, constructed in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1893, embodies the distinct characteristics of a tamped earth dam, through its design and construction techniques. These methods began in the 18th century and with some modifications are still being used today. The dam was designed to reduce interior hydrostatic pressure and was constructed using goats to puddle the earth. The engineered design incorporated methods, including seepage collars and variation of material, to reduce the amount of water inside the structure. Concrete seepage collars stop water from traveling along the tunnel underneath the dam (Drawing 2/1). Earthen material was varied to slow the movement of water through the dam. The upstream portion of the dam was constructed using small particle fill, such as silt and clay, and was packed to achieve high density and the downstream portion of the dam was constructed using larger fill, consisting of sand and gravel (Drawing 2/1). Earthen dams have a line of saturation that should exist in relative equilibrium (Drawing 5/6). Varying the material to create a relatively impervious upstream slope and a pervious downstream slope aids in protecting the dam from failure through saturation. Two Mile Dam is one of the largest embankment dams in New Mexico, was the largest dam constructed at the time, and was used for both irrigation and potable water supply. Montezuma Dam, an earthen dam near Las Vegas, New Mexico, constructed after Two Mile, was approximately 20-25 ft (6-7 m) high and retained water for ice skating and ice supply. The construction of Two Mile Reservoir was a large undertaking which created substantial water supply for the City of Santa Fe, gained national attention, and was a catalyst for the urbanization of Santa Fe.
Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF DAM LOOKING SOUTHEAST PRIOR TO BREACH
2. UPSTREAM SIDE OF DAM LOOKING SOUTHWEST PRIOR TO BREACH
3. DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF DAM LOOKING SOUTHEAST DURING BREACH
4. DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF DAM LOOKING SOUTHEAST DURING BREACH
5. UPSTREAM SIDE OF DAM LOOKING SOUTHWEST PRIOR TO BREACH
6. DAM AND RESERVOIR BASIN LOOKING WEST PRIOR TO BREACH
7. RESERVOIR OUTLET
8. RESERVOIR OUTLET
9. RESERVOIR SPILLWAY
10. DIVERSION WEIR
11. UPSTREAM DOMED OUTLET AND GATE VALVE DURING BREACH - SOUTHWEST VIEW
12. UPSTREAM DOMED OUTLET AND GATE VALVE DURING BREACH - NORTHEAST VIEW
13. UPSTREAM DOMED OUTLET AND GATE VALVE DURING BREACH - NORTHEAST VIEW
14. DOWNSTREAM GATE VALVE - EAST VIEW
15. OUTLET TUNNEL LOOKING EAST
16. OUTLET TUNNEL LOOKING EAST
17. OUTLET TUNNEL LOOKING EAST
18. TOP OF OLD STONE DAM LOOKING SOUTHWEST
19. PIPE OUTLET IN OLD STONE DAM
20. STONE ALIGNMENT IN RESERVOIR LOOKING EAST
21. Photographic copy of 1915 linen drawing of reservoir and hydroelectric power plant. Approximately seven feet by three and one half feet. Delineator unknown, original currently located in the Sangre de Cristo Water Company drawing files.
22. Photographic copy of 1889 linen drawing of reservoir. Approximately two and a half feet by four feet. Delineator unknown, original currently located in the Sangre de Cristo Water Company files.
23. Photographic copy of 1883 ink and water color drawing of the Old Stone Dam. Original located in the office of the director of the Sangre de Cristo Water Company.
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