Spring Lake Dam dam
Spring Lake Dam
Spring Lake Dam in Canton, Texas, plays a vital role in both recreational activities and water supply management. This earth dam, standing at a height of 30 feet with a structural height of 24 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 478 acre-feet and serves a normal storage of 223 acre-feet. The dam, completed in 1930, spans a length of 490 feet and is situated on the Chinquapin Branch river.
Despite its importance, recent assessments have revealed a poor condition of the dam, raising concerns about its structural integrity and safety. The last inspection conducted in June 2017 highlighted the need for improvements, with a risk assessment rating the hazard potential as moderate. With a history of modifications in 1930 for structural enhancements, it is crucial for the responsible agency, TCEQ, to enforce regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the dam's safety and longevity for both recreational and water management purposes.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area should be aware of the risks associated with the Spring Lake Dam and advocate for proper maintenance and repair measures to safeguard the community from potential hazards. With a spillway type classified as uncontrolled and a risk assessment rating of 3 (moderate), it is imperative for stakeholders to monitor the dam's condition closely and push for necessary actions to address the identified issues. By staying informed and involved in the oversight of this critical infrastructure, enthusiasts can contribute to the preservation of this essential water resource for future generations.
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 Spring Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 111 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Kings Ck At Sh 34 Nr Kaufman | 8 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Trinidad | 2,270 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Road Henderson County
- County Road 2830 15500, Henderson County
- East Cedar Creek Parkway 2101, Mabank
- Private Road 7398 469, Wills Point
- Rains County
Campgrounds
- Purtis Creek State Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Lake Tawakoni State Park
- Camp Meisenbach
- Staff Cabins
Fishing spots
Track Spring 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 Spring Lake Dam
Where does the data for Spring 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 Spring Lake Dam.