James Lake Dam dam
James Lake Dam
James Lake Dam, located in Palo Pinto, Texas, serves as a vital water supply structure for the region. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at 32 feet high and spans 782 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 508 acre-feet. Situated on the Palo Pinto Creek, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and ensuring a reliable water supply for the surrounding area.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), James Lake Dam is inspected and enforced regularly to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With uncontrolled spillways and two outlet gates, the dam is designed to manage potential flood risks and maintain a moderate hazard potential rating. Despite not having a current condition assessment rating, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of water supply effectively, highlighting its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a key infrastructure in the Fort Worth District, James Lake Dam represents a critical component in the water supply system of Palo Pinto, Texas. With its strategic location on the Palo Pinto Creek and its capacity to store and regulate water flow, the dam plays a significant role in ensuring water security for the surrounding communities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and monitoring the condition and management of structures like James Lake Dam is essential for sustainable water management and resilience in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 James Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Nr Palo Pinto | 143 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Graford | 123 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Dennis | 370 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr De Leon | 8 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr South Bend | 7 cfs | → |
| Sabana Rv Nr De Leon | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near James Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Road 36 Palo Pinto County
- Palo Pinto County
- Old Tin Top Road 1868-1998, Weatherford
- North Lipan Drive 2301-2303, Granbury
Campgrounds
Track James 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 James Lake Dam
Where does the data for James 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 James Lake Dam.