Hitts Lake Dam dam
Hitts Lake Dam
Hitts Lake Dam, located in Smith, Texas, is a privately owned structure that plays a vital role in irrigation by harnessing the waters of Hitts Creek. Built in 1945, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches at a length of 610 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 1380 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 852 acre-feet. The dam's purpose is primarily for irrigation, serving the agricultural needs of the surrounding area.
Maintained and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Hitts Lake Dam has undergone modifications in 1993 to reinforce its hydraulic and structural integrity. Despite being rated in fair condition as of April 2021, the dam poses a moderate risk due to its hazard potential not being available. The spillway, with a width of 28 feet, functions as an uncontrolled outlet in case of excess water flow. With Louie Gohmert representing the area in Congress, the dam continues to be a critical component of water resource management in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in Texas would find Hitts Lake Dam a fascinating subject of study, given its historical significance, engineering design, and operational importance in sustaining agriculture through irrigation. As a privately owned structure with state regulation, the dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing and managing water resources for the benefit of communities in the region. With ongoing inspections and risk assessments, Hitts Lake Dam remains a key feature in the water infrastructure of Smith County, 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 Hitts Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 313 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 135 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 45 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater | 364 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 12 cfs | → |
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hitts Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Fm 14 Smith County
- County Road 3440 2448, Wood County
- South Tyler Street 901, Gladewater
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- County Road 3504, Bullard
- Farm-To-Market Road 1892, Frankston
Campgrounds
- Tyler State Park
- Lake Hawkins County Rv Park
- Fish Hawke Point
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- City Park Camp - Overton
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
Fishing spots
Track Hitts 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 Hitts Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hitts 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 Hitts Lake Dam.