Medina Diversion Lake Dam dam
Medina Diversion Lake Dam
Medina Diversion Lake Dam, located in RioMedina, Texas, is a gravity dam built in 1913 by designers Bartlett and Ranney. The dam, with a height of 51 feet and a length of 450 feet, serves the primary purpose of irrigation along the Medina River. It has a storage capacity of 3,900 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 678,414 cubic feet per second.
The dam features a multi-arch core type and a rock foundation, with an uncontrolled spillway width of 360 feet. It is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2012. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a hazard potential that is not available and a condition assessment that is not rated.
With a surface area of 197 acres and serving a drainage area of 649 square miles, the Medina Diversion Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam's design and operational details fascinating for understanding its impact on irrigation and flood control along the Medina River.
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 Medina Diversion Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Geronimo Ck Nr Helotes | 3 cfs | → |
| Middle Verde Ck At Sh 173 Nr Bandera | · | → |
| Helotes Ck At Helotes | · | → |
| Hondo Ck At Sh 173 Nr Hondo | · | → |
| Medina Rv Nr Macdona | 16 cfs | → |
| Medina Rv At Bandera | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Medina Diversion Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Castroville Regional Park
- Lackland Afb Military
- Wilderness Camp Area
- Butterfly Springs Camp Area
- Hermit's Shack Camp Area
Fishing spots
Track Medina Diversion 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 Medina Diversion Lake Dam
Where does the data for Medina Diversion 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 Medina Diversion Lake Dam.