Horseshoe Lake Dam dam
Horseshoe Lake Dam
Horseshoe Lake Dam, located in Erath County, Texas, is a privately owned structure designed by Childress and Recer for the primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1968, this earth dam stands at a height of 48 feet and spans 940 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. The dam is situated along Mitchell Creek and is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 4,800 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway width of 134 feet, the dam poses a moderate risk level (3) according to the available data. While the hazard potential and condition assessment are not rated, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not specified. The last inspection was conducted in December 1981, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and assessment to maintain the dam's integrity and safety for the surrounding community and water resources.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Horseshoe Lake Dam to be an intriguing structure with a crucial role in supporting irrigation in the region. The dam's design, construction, and regulatory oversight offer valuable insights into the management of water infrastructure in Texas. As efforts to address climate change and water resource sustainability continue, understanding the function and safety of dams like Horseshoe Lake Dam is essential for ensuring the resilience and reliability of our water systems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Horseshoe Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Paluxy Rv At Glen Rose | 6 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Hico | 8 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Glen Rose | 385 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Ds Lk Granbury Nr Granbury | 359 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Dennis | 287 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Hamilton | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horseshoe Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Coates Road 2200, Granbury
- Us 67 Somervell County
- East State Loop 426 621, Granbury
- North Lipan Drive 2301-2303, Granbury
- Monticello Drive 8517, Granbury
- Pr 21 North 2212, Cleburne
Campgrounds
- Dinosaur Valley State Park
- Stephenville City Park
- Hico City Park
- Thorp Spring - Lake Granbury
- Dublin City Park
- Hunter Park - Lake Granbury
Fishing spots
Track Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake Dam
Where does the data for Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Lake Dam.