Cabresto Dam

The long-awaited reconstruction of Cabresto Dam above Questa takes a critical step forward this month with two public meetings on the plans. Rebuilding the 192-year-old dam became a priority in 2005 after heavy runoff caused seepage through the earthen-concrete structure. Subsequently, the state engineer’s office placed a limit on water storage, which reduced the amount of irrigation water to two acequias in the Questa area. Stream and storage water flow through about eight miles of ditch into six different acequia systems on about 4,000 acres of cultivated land. The Cabresto association has an 1815 priority right — the year the acequias began officially drawing water from the creek — and got a “license” to store in 1907. The dam was first constructed in the 1860s, and raised twice since then. Intense lobbying by acequia officials produced $5.5 million in legislative appropriations for the project. The proposed project would breach the old dam and build a new one about 160 feet downstream along Cabresto Creek. The new structure would have updated designs for outlets and a spillway...read more