Willow Lake Dam dam
Willow Lake Dam
Willow Lake Dam, located in Van Zandt, Texas, is a privately owned structure completed in 1928 for recreational purposes. Standing at 27 feet in height and stretching 1350 feet in length, this earth dam on Wills Creek provides a storage capacity of 865 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 511 acre-feet. The dam's uncontrolled spillway measures 96 feet in width, with a maximum discharge capacity of 3814 cubic feet per second.
Despite being last inspected in 1993 and rated as "Not Available" in terms of hazard potential, Willow Lake Dam remains under state regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The risk assessment for this structure is classified as moderate, with no emergency action plan documented. Although the dam's condition is not currently rated, enthusiasts of water resources and climate may find interest in the history and engineering of this vital infrastructure along Wills Creek. With potential for recreation and water storage, Willow Lake Dam serves as a noteworthy feature in the Texas landscape.
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 Willow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 111 cfs | → |
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
| S Fk Sabine Rv Nr Quinlan | 7 cfs | → |
| Kings Ck At Sh 34 Nr Kaufman | 8 cfs | → |
| Cowleech Fk Sabine Rv At Greenville | 6 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Private Road 7398 469, Wills Point
- Rains County
- Duck Cove Public Boat Ramp
- Fm 751 11438, Hunt County
- West Tawakoni
Campgrounds
- Lake Tawakoni State Park
- Wind Point Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Purtis Creek State Park
- Governor Jim Hogg Rv Park - Quitman
Track Willow 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 Willow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Willow 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 Willow Lake Dam.