Hughes Lake Dam dam
Hughes Lake Dam
Hughes Lake Dam, located in Washington County, Texas, was completed in 1955 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. The earth dam, with a height of 20 feet and capacity of 700 acre-feet, is privately owned and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The dam sits on TR-New Year Creek and is part of the Galveston District, overseen by Congressman Michael T. McCaul.
Despite being classified as "Not Rated" in condition assessment, Hughes Lake Dam poses a high risk level (2) based on its hazard potential. The dam does not have a spillway, and there are no associated structures or locks. With a primary purpose of fire protection and recreation, the dam's normal storage capacity is 260 acre-feet. Although the dam is not federally owned, funded, or constructed, it is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Hughes Lake Dam an intriguing subject for study due to its unique design and purpose in the region. The dam's location on TR-New Year Creek adds to its ecological significance, providing water storage for various activities while also posing potential risks in case of failure. The dam's history, state regulation, and lack of federal involvement offer a rich narrative for those interested in the intersection of water management, infrastructure, and environmental policy in Texas.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Hughes Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Nr Hempstead | 11,600 cfs | → |
| Yegua Ck Nr Somerville | 1 cfs | → |
| Davidson Ck Nr Lyons | 67 cfs | → |
| Mill Ck Nr Bellville | 75 cfs | → |
| Bee Ck Trib A At College Station | 0 cfs | → |
| Bee Ck Main At College Station | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hughes Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Texas 105 20000, Navasota
- Farm To Market 50 13508-13698, Brenham
- Highway 159 East 11980, Bellville
- North Overlook Park Drive 12870-12872, Brenham
- Washington County
- Burleson County
Campgrounds
- Navasota Rv Park
- Overlook - Lake Somerville
- Grizzly Pines - Gay Campground
- Yegua Creek - Lake Somerville
- 73
- 72
Fishing spots
Track Hughes Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Hughes Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hughes Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Not Available hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Hughes Lake Dam.