Garden Lake Dam dam
Garden Lake Dam
Garden Lake Dam, located in Van Zandt, Texas, is a private irrigation structure built in 1947 along the TR-VILLAGE CREEK river. Standing at a height of 23 feet, with a structural height of 26 feet and a length of 762 feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond creation. It has a maximum storage capacity of 940 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 350 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 35 acres.
Although last inspected in 1976, Garden Lake Dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and falls under state jurisdiction for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's spillway, with a width of 80 feet, is uncontrolled and features three outlet gates. While the hazard potential and condition assessment are currently marked as "Not Available" and "Not Rated" respectively, the dam's risk assessment is classified as moderate (3), indicating a level of risk management measures in place.
The Garden Lake Dam, a vital resource for irrigation purposes in the region, showcases the importance of maintaining and regulating dams to ensure safety and sustainability for both water resources and local communities. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, the dam serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to manage and protect water infrastructure in the face of changing climate patterns and 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 Garden Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 105 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 18 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 262 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 66 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 149 cfs | → |
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garden Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Private Road 5183 Wood County
- Wood County
- County Road 1973 Wood County
- County Road 3440 2448, Wood County
- Fm 2946 Rains County
- Fm 14 Smith County
Campgrounds
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Governor Jim Hogg Rv Park - Quitman
- Lake Hawkins County Rv Park
- Lake Quitman Park
- Tyler State Park
Fishing spots
Track Garden 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 Garden Lake Dam
Where does the data for Garden 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 Garden Lake Dam.