Hand Lake Dam dam
Hand Lake Dam
Hand Lake Dam, located in Van Zandt County, Texas, was completed in 1953 for the primary purpose of irrigation. The dam stands at a height of 17 feet and spans a length of 620 feet, with a storage capacity of 338 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Murchison Creek, the dam is classified as an earth dam with a buttress core type. Despite being privately owned and not regulated by the state, the dam has undergone inspections and is equipped with one outlet gate.
Although the dam's hazard potential and condition assessment are not available, it is considered to have a high risk level. The last inspection conducted on the dam dates back to July 1988. While the dam does not have a spillway, it serves an essential role in providing irrigation water to the surrounding area. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hand Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the infrastructure supporting agricultural activities in the region and the challenges associated with managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Hand Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 243 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 179 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 35 cfs | → |
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 0 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Trinidad | 4,100 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hand Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- Park Road Henderson County
- County Road 3504, Bullard
- Farm-To-Market Road 1892, Frankston
- County Road 2830 15500, Henderson County
- Jupiter Road, Star Harbor
Campgrounds
- Purtis Creek State Park
- Tyler State Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Camp Meisenbach
- Staff Cabins
Fishing spots
Track Hand 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 Hand Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hand 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 Hand Lake Dam.