Elm Creek Lake Dam dam
Elm Creek Lake Dam
Elm Creek Lake Dam, located in Ballinger, Texas, is a local government-owned structure designed by R F DAVIS and completed in 1930. The dam serves as a vital recreational area, with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for visitors. Standing at a height of 23 feet and a length of 450 feet, Elm Creek Lake Dam boasts a storage capacity of 6018 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 6018 cubic feet per second.
The dam, built on Elm Creek, is regulated and inspected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. The spillway, with a width of 1675 feet, is uncontrolled and equipped with two outlet gates. While the hazard potential and condition assessment of the dam are not available, the risk assessment is moderate (3), indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. Despite being non-US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) owned, Elm Creek Lake Dam remains a critical structure in the region for both recreation and water resource management.
With its picturesque location in Runnels County, Texas, Elm Creek Lake Dam offers a tranquil oasis for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy nature's beauty and engage in various recreational activities. Whether it's fishing, boating, or simply soaking in the scenic views, visitors can appreciate the importance of this earth dam in providing both leisure and water storage benefits for the community. As a regulated and inspected structure, Elm Creek Lake Dam stands as a testament to effective dam management practices, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all who visit this beloved local landmark.
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 Elm Creek Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elm Ck At Ballinger | 61 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv Nr Ballinger | 1 cfs | → |
| Concho Rv At Paint Rock | 81 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv Nr Stacy | 11 cfs | → |
| Hords Ck Nr Coleman | · | → |
| Colorado Rv At Robert Lee | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elm Creek Lake Dam.
Track Elm Creek 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 Elm Creek Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elm Creek 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 Elm Creek Lake Dam.