The waymark coordinates are for the US Hydroelectric power plant at Amistad Dam. SEE BELOW FOR SPECIAL INFORMATION
The Amistad Dam project involved two states (Texas and Coahula MX) and two countries (US and MX) who shared a common goal to control flooding at the confluence of the Devils River, Pecos River, and Rio Grande River, and mitigate the impact of frequent droughts on their respective states and nations.
Amistad Dam had been planned for years the 1950s but only was fully funded so the construction could be started in 1963. When construction was completed and Lake and the stat opened in 1969, Lake, and the stat began to fulfill its potential for water conservation, drought mitigation, and flood control, while it gave this region a brand-new recreational draw.
From the National Park Service: (
visit link)
"Amistad (meaning “friendship” in Spanish) Dam was constructed by the United States and Mexico in accordance to the Water Treaty Act of 1944. It was built in response to frequent droughts and a number of floods, the worst of which occurred in 1954, killing
over 300 Del Rio residents.
While several sites were considered for the dam the ultimate site selection along the Rio Grande was chosen due to its strategic location below the confluences of the Pecos and Devils Rivers.
Prior to building the dam, 56,570 acres of land was acquired by the U.S. Government to accommodate the reservoir. In addition, 14.3 miles of Southern Pacific Railroad track and 16.3 miles of U.S. Highway 90 and 2.7 miles of U.S. Highway 277 were rerouted
to make way for the reservoir.
Dam construction began in August of 1963 and was completed in 1968 by a joint venture of four U.S. contractors (Perini Corporation, Leavall & Co. J.A. Jones Construction Co. and Vinnell Corporation)
along with one Mexican firm (La Victoria y Asociados).
The overall cost of the dam amounted to $125,000,000. The U.S. portion totaled $72.3 million dollars while the Mexican portion totaled $52.7 million dollars. The cost of the dam was shared between the U.S. and Mexican Governments according to a ratio
that reflects the amount of water allocated to each country. The conservation capacity of the reservoir is 56.2% to the U.S. and 43.8% to Mexico.
Amistad Dam was dedicated by President Richard Nixon of the United States and President Diaz Ordaz of Mexico on September 8, 1969.
Each country separately installed hydroelectric generating plants. The U.S. Power Plant was constructed 1980-1983. Mexico’s Power Plant was constructed 1981-1987.
Today Amistad Dam is operated and maintained jointly by the United States and Mexico Sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), a branch of the U.S. State Department.
The National Park Service (NPS) began providing for and managing recreation at Amistad Reservoir on November 11, 1965. The IBWC transferred ownership of the lands on the United States side of Amistad Reservoir to the NPS on November 28, 1990.
Length of Dam
U.S. 1.81 miles (2.9 km)
Mexico 4.25 miles (6.8km)
Total 6.06miles (9.75 km)
Height of Dam
Roadway is 254 feet (77.4 m) above the riverbed and 1,152.3 feet (351.2 m) above mean sea level.
Gates
16 gates in total: 50 feet wide anf 54 feet high
16 spillway gates capable of releasing 1,500,000 cubic feet per second (42,670 cubic meters)
Hydroelectric generation
The average annual U.S. generation = 161,000,000 kilowatt hours
Normal flow through each turbine at rated load = 2,300 cubic feet per second
Turbine generator speed = 200 rotations per minute
Generator voltage = 13,800 volts
Two units:
Generators 33,000 kilowatts each
Turbines 42,300 horsepower each
Mexico’s power plant is similar to the U.S., with equal generating capabilities."
SPECIAL INFORMATION (current as of Sep 2015):
Waymarkers who wish to visit this exact spot should know that in order to drive on Amistad Dam, it is first necessary to go through the US border patrol checkpoint at the east end of the dam. AS OF 2013, ALL US CITIZENS RETURNING TO THE US FROM MEXICO MUST HAVE THEIR PASSPORTS WITH THEM.
In order to return to United States, it will be necessary for the waymarkers to proceed all the way across the dam into Mexico, pass through the Mexican customs station at the west end of the dam, and then come back through US customs and border patrol at the eastern end of the dam. There is no ability to go to the "official" border line in the center of the dam and make a U-turn and to come back to the US.
Waymarkers who want to drive onto the dam itself should call the National Park Service before venturing out, to see if the dam is open. The day that Blazterz visited (21 Jun 2015), the state highway over the dam was closed to all traffic to accomodate a dam construction and repair project.
International Boundary and Water Commission staff told us that the dam would be closed to public access for a long time, as repairs needed are extensive and time-consuming.
Blasterz recommend waymarkers visit these coordinates, which are at the end of a road along part of the dam, also the closest point a US-side waymarker can go to without needed to pass through the USBP checkpoint: N 29* 27.452 W 101* 2.059