Hatchery Lake Dam dam
Hatchery Lake Dam
Hatchery Lake Dam in Walker, Texas, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1932 with a primary purpose for other uses. The dam stands at 24 feet high and spans 350 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet. Situated on Harmon Creek, the dam has a buttress core type and is owned by the state of Texas. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and it has a high hazard potential.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Hatchery Lake Dam particularly intriguing due to its historical significance and potential risks associated with its high hazard classification. With a lack of spillway and limited information on its inspection frequency, there is a need for further assessment and potential risk management measures. The dam's location in a rural area may also pose challenges for emergency preparedness and response in the event of a dam failure or breach.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of monitoring and maintaining dams like Hatchery Lake Dam becomes increasingly vital. With the potential for extreme weather events and increased precipitation in the region, ensuring the safety and integrity of dams is crucial for protecting downstream communities and ecosystems. As such, ongoing evaluation and risk management strategies will be essential for mitigating potential hazards and ensuring the longevity of this important water resource structure.
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 Hatchery Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Huntsville | 15 cfs | → |
| Bedias Ck Nr Madisonville | 196 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo Ck At Onalaska | 383 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Bl Lk Conroe Nr Conroe | 100 cfs | → |
| Long King Ck At Livingston | 1,360 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck Nr Dobbin | 111 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hatchery Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverside
- 190 Boat Launch 898, Point Blank
- Harbor Point Boat Launch
- San Jacinto County
- Scotts Ridge Swim Area
- Fm 2457 4298, Polk County
Campgrounds
- Four Notch Hunter Camp
- Huntsville State Park
- Stubblefield Lake
- Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area
- Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205
- Cagle Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Farm To Market Road 1375 To East Fork Of San Jacinto River
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Trinity River
- Preserve Boundary Of The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Village Creek
- State Highway 7 To Us Highway 59
- State Highway 21 To State Highwy 7
Track Hatchery 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 Hatchery Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hatchery 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 Hatchery Lake Dam.