Lake Palo Pinto Dam dam
Lake Palo Pinto Dam
Lake Palo Pinto Dam, located in Palo Pinto, Texas, is a crucial water supply structure managed by the local government. Built in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 96 feet, with a hydraulic height and structural height matching this figure. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, with a normal storage capacity of 44,100 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 186,000 acre-feet, serving the surrounding area's water needs.
The dam spans a length of 1,255 feet and has a surface area of 2,661 acres, impounding water from Palo Pinto Creek. With a maximum discharge capacity of 362,299 cubic feet per second, the dam features an uncontrolled spillway 550 feet wide. Despite having a fair condition assessment as of June 2014, the dam poses a moderate risk (level 3) according to the data available. With the dam's construction overseen by notable engineering firms like FREESE AND NICHOLS AND ENDRESS AND HDR, URS/FORREST AND COTTON, INC., Lake Palo Pinto Dam stands as a vital infrastructure ensuring water supply for the region.
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 Lake Palo Pinto 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 | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr South Bend | 7 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr De Leon | 8 cfs | → |
| Clear Fk Trinity Rv Nr Weatherford | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Palo Pinto 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 Lake Palo Pinto 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 Lake Palo Pinto Dam
Where does the data for Lake Palo Pinto 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 Lake Palo Pinto Dam.