HOW ARE NEW MEXICO’S DAMS HOLDING UP AS A RESULT OF THE STRONG SPRING RUNOFF? ACCORDING TO THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, STATE ENGINEER JOHN D’ANTONIO TOLD STATE LAWMAKERS LAST WEEK THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE 300 OR SO DAMS IN THE STATE COULD HAVE PROBLEMS. HE SAYS 170 DAMS ARE CONSIDERED “HIGH HAZARD.” THAT MEANS A FAILURE AT ONE OF THE DAMS COULD LEAD TO AT LEAST ONE DEATH.
D-ANTONIO SAYS A THIRD OF NEW MEXICO’S DAMS ARE IN SATISFACTORY SHAPE AND 30-PERCENT ARE IN POOR OR UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION. SOME REPAIR WORK IS NOW GOING ON, BUT D’ANTONIO SAYS THERE’S NO MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
