Clear Lake Dam dam
Clear Lake Dam
Clear Lake Dam, located in Hays, Texas, along the Pin Oak Creek, was completed in 1952 and is primarily used for irrigation purposes. Owned by a private entity and designed by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet. While the dam does not have a spillway, it does have one outlet gate to control the water flow.
Despite its age and lack of recent inspections, Clear Lake Dam poses a high risk, as classified by hazard potential. The dam's condition assessment is not rated, and there is no emergency action plan prepared, raising concerns about the safety and management of the structure. The risk associated with the dam is labeled as a 2 on a scale, indicating the need for increased monitoring and potential risk mitigation measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Clear Lake Dam serves as a point of interest due to its historical significance and the potential implications of its condition on the surrounding area. With its location in a region prone to weather extremes, the management and maintenance of this dam are crucial for both irrigation and recreation purposes. As discussions around water resource management and climate adaptation continue, the future of Clear Lake Dam will likely be a topic of interest and concern for those invested in sustainable water infrastructure.
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 Clear Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco Rv At Fischer Store Rd Nr Fischer | 9 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At Wimberley | 4 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv At Sattler | 66 cfs | → |
| Onion Ck Nr Driftwood | 0 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At Halifax Rch Nr Kyle | 5 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clear Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Hancock Road. Canyon Lake.
- Jacob's Creek Park. North Ramp. Canyon Lake.
- Canyon Park. Canyon Lake.
- Jacob's Creek Park. Canyon Lake.
- Nancy Joe Ramp. Canyon Lake.
- Potter's Creek Park; West Ramp. Canyon Lake.
Campgrounds
- Canyon - Canyon Lake
- Canyon Lake Military - Randolph Afb
- North Park - Canyon Lake
- Potters Creek - Canyon Lake
- Cranes Mill Park - Canyon Lake
- Camp Huaco Springs
Fishing spots
Track Clear 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 Clear Lake Dam
Where does the data for Clear 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 Clear Lake Dam.