Furst Ranch Lake Dam dam
Furst Ranch Lake Dam
Located in Denton County, Texas, Furst Ranch Lake Dam stands as a testament to water resource management and climate resilience. Built in 1963, this private dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for visitors to enjoy the 38-acre surface area and 400-acre-feet of normal storage capacity. With a height of 32.9 feet and an uncontrolled spillway width of 250 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing the flow of Whites Branch, a tributary of the Trinity River.
State-regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Furst Ranch Lake Dam boasts a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam's hazard potential remains undetermined, its condition assessment is yet to be rated. Despite its age, the dam continues to operate efficiently, with regular state inspections ensuring its structural integrity. With a maximum discharge capacity of 15,376 cubic feet per second, the dam is designed to withstand the demands of its drainage area of 2.45 square miles.
As climate change poses increasing challenges to water resources, Furst Ranch Lake Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for both recreation and flood control. With its earth dam structure and buttress core type, the dam exemplifies the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship. As water resource and climate enthusiasts flock to this idyllic location, they can appreciate the harmonious balance between human development and ecological preservation that Furst Ranch Lake Dam represents.
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 Furst Ranch Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory Ck At Denton | 195 cfs | → |
| Denton Ck Nr Justin | 18 cfs | → |
| Denton Ck Nr Grapevine | 260 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Lewisville | 697 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Carrollton | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Indian Ck At Fm 2281 | 220 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Furst Ranch Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Marshall Creek Park Denton County
- Meadowmere Park Boat Ramp
- Meadowmere Lane Boat Ramp
- Orchid Hill Lane Highland Village
- Island View Drive Grapevine
- Sycamore Bend Road Hickory Creek
Campgrounds
- Little Elm Park
- Sandy Lake Rv Resort
- Isle Du Bois - Roberts Lake State Park
- Camp Thurman
- Dallas / Arlington Koa
- Johnson Branch - Roberts Lake State Park
Track Furst Ranch 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 Furst Ranch Lake Dam
Where does the data for Furst Ranch 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 Furst Ranch Lake Dam.