Concrete problem impacts Ruidoso dam

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KBIM-KRQE) - The dam at Grindstone Lake in Ruidoso was found to have technical issues after a dive team used ultrasound technology during a routine inspection last year.

"It showed some anomalies, and we would like to pursue the anomalies further," said Village of Ruidoso Public Works Director Randall Camp.

The village won't know exactly what's wrong with the concrete until core drilling is done, which could happen as early as May.

Camp says he thinks it could be an issue like concrete densities or unconsolidated concrete.

There is not a public safety issue; Camp says the dam could survive an earthquake at its current level.

But with the water level 18 feet below the spillway, that's the biggest problem the village is running into.

Right now the lake is only about 60 percent of its capacity, and with near-record snowfall, the village is hoping to capitalize on this year's snowpack runoff.

"This is very important for us to get this core drilling and get the approval from the state so we can get the water level back up," said Camp.

The dam supplies about 600,000 gallons of water to the village every day.

The Public Works department says they hope to have the problem mitigated by June.