Sanders Lake Dam dam
Sanders Lake Dam
Sanders Lake Dam, located in Burleson, Texas, was completed in 1972 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Designed by USDA NRCS, this private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a length of 858 feet, providing a storage capacity of 178 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, irrigation, and recreation, making it a vital resource for the local community.
Despite not being state regulated, Sanders Lake Dam is inspected and permitted by the state of Texas. With a hazard potential of "Not Available" and a risk assessment rating of "High (2)", the dam's condition is currently not rated. While the presence of a spillway is noted as "None", the dam's structural integrity is maintained by a buttress core type. With its proximity to TR-ELM BRANCH and with no associated structures, Sanders Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the area, making it a key asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and support.
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 Sanders Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 316 cfs | → |
| Davidson Ck Nr Lyons | 56 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Sh 21 Nr Bryan | 7,110 cfs | → |
| Yegua Ck Nr Somerville | 0 cfs | → |
| Middle Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 11 cfs | → |
| Bee Ck Trib A At College Station | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sanders Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Drive, Somerville
- Ripple Creek Lane, Somerville
- State Park Road 57, Somerville
- Burleson County
- Fm 180 Road, Ledbetter
- Iron Bridge Road 9251, Burton
Campgrounds
- Birch Creek - Lake Somerville State Park
- Big Creek Park And Marina Dispersed
- Welch Park - Somerville
- 18
- 17
- 19
Fishing spots
Track Sanders 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 Sanders Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sanders 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 Sanders Lake Dam.