Fern Lake Dam dam
Fern Lake Dam
Located in Harrison, Texas, Fern Lake Dam stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering with its earth core buttress design completed in 1902. Primarily used for recreation, this 21-foot high dam holds a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 277 acre-feet. The dam spans 430 feet along Picnitt Creek, creating a surface area of 49.5 acres and serving a drainage area of 1.1 square miles.
Despite its age, Fern Lake Dam remains in good condition with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 85 feet and three uncontrolled outlet gates. While its hazard potential and emergency preparedness status are not available, the dam has not been inspected since May 1989. Managed by a private owner, Fern Lake Dam continues to be a vital resource for water recreation enthusiasts in the region, showcasing the enduring legacy of early dam engineering in Texas.
As a key feature in the Fort Worth District, Fern Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the historical development of water infrastructure in Texas. With its picturesque location and recreational purpose, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. While its risk assessment suggests a moderate level of concern, the dam's continued operation underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term viability for future generations of water and climate enthusiasts.
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 Fern Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Jefferson | 75 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Abv Sh 43 Nr Karnack | 167 cfs | → |
| Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson | 33 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Nr Jefferson | 16 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Beckville | 348 cfs | → |
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Ore City | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fern Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Dallas Street 100, Jefferson
- Marion County
- Big Cypress Marina Road 1500, Jefferson
- Boat Launch Road Harrison County
Campgrounds
- Caddo Lake State Park
- Buckhorn Creek - Lake Of The Pines
- Buckhorn Creek Campground
- Brushy Creek - Lake Of The Pines
- Hurricane Creek - Lake Of The Pines
- Johnson Creek - Lake Of The Pines
Fishing spots
Track Fern 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 Fern Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fern 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 Fern Lake Dam.