Lower Lake Dam dam
Lower Lake Dam
Lower Lake Dam, located in Denton, Texas, along Indian Creek, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1940, this dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 778 feet, providing a storage capacity of 134 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and its hazard potential is not available, making it a point of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and regulated by the state, Lower Lake Dam has undergone inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and compliance. However, with a high risk assessment score of 2, there may be concerns about its structural integrity and emergency preparedness. The absence of a spillway and limited drainage area raise questions about the dam's ability to handle extreme weather events and potential flooding risks.
While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its lack of inundation maps, emergency action plan updates, and comprehensive risk management measures indicate the need for further attention and monitoring. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the intricacies of Lower Lake Dam, its historical significance, recreational value, and potential vulnerabilities in the face of changing environmental conditions offer a compelling case study for the intersection of water management and climate resilience.
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 Lower Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Ck At Fm 2281 | 10 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Lewisville | 350 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Carrollton | 279 cfs | → |
| Doe Br At Us Hwy 380 Nr Prosper | 25 cfs | → |
| Denton Ck Nr Grapevine | 30 cfs | → |
| White Rock Ck At Greenville Ave | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Sky Drive The Colony
- Trotline Road Lewisville
- Sandy Lake Road Coppell
- 1b Road Lewisville
- Westlake Park Hickory Creek
- Kelton Avenue Hickory Creek
Track Lower 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 Lower Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower 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 Lower Lake Dam.