Leo A Smith Lake Dam dam
Leo A Smith Lake Dam
Leo A Smith Lake Dam, located in Henderson, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 15 feet and stretching 1300 feet in length, the dam provides a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 72 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Caddo Creek, the dam does not have a spillway and is not regulated by the state. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition remains unrated, with no emergency action plan in place.
This dam, part of the Fort Worth District, is associated with no other structures and has no federal agency involvement in its construction or operation. With a risk assessment rating of "High (2)", it is clear that there are potential safety concerns associated with Leo A Smith Lake Dam. Despite its lack of state regulation and enforcement, the dam does undergo regular state inspections and permitting. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Leo A Smith Lake Dam an interesting case study in private dam ownership and the potential risks associated with recreational water structures.
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 Leo A Smith Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neches Rv Nr Neches | 155 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Hwy 287 Nr Cayuga | 3,850 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Trinidad | 6,040 cfs | → |
| Mud Ck Nr Jacksonville | 56 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Oakwood | 3,250 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 141 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leo A Smith Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- Farm-To-Market Road 1892, Frankston
- County Road 3504, Bullard
- South Shore Drive 3301-3371, Jacksonville
- Jupiter Road, Star Harbor
- County Road 2830 15500, Henderson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Leo A Smith 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 Leo A Smith Lake Dam
Where does the data for Leo A Smith 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 Leo A Smith Lake Dam.