Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam dam
Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam
Cow Bayou WS SCS Site 8 Dam, located in McLennan County, Texas, stands as a crucial structure designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1955, this earth dam spans a length of 1600 feet and reaches a height of 35 feet, providing a storage capacity of 964 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the TR-NORTH COW BAYOU, plays a significant role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite its importance in flood risk reduction, the dam's condition assessment was marked as unsatisfactory as of April 2021, with a high risk level assigned. The dam lacks a spillway and has limited outlet gates, potentially posing challenges in managing water discharge during peak flow events. With the dam being state-regulated and inspected, further monitoring and maintenance efforts may be required to ensure the structure's resilience and effectiveness in safeguarding the community and environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor the Cow Bayou WS SCS Site 8 Dam, attention to its risk management measures and hazard potential remains essential. With a close eye on its condition and maintenance, stakeholders can work towards enhancing the dam's performance and mitigating potential risks associated with its operation. This dam serves as a critical infrastructure piece in the local government's flood risk reduction efforts, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Bosque Rv Nr Mcgregor | 54 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 292 cfs | → |
| Hog Ck Nr Crawford | 15 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Valley Mills | 41 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Belton | 386 cfs | → |
| N Elm Ck At Rosebud Rd Nr Meeks | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam.
Boat launches
- Koehne Park Drive, Waco
- Classic Drive 489-495, Waco
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 908-998, Waco
- Waco Lake Hike &Amp;Amp; Bike Trail Waco
- Tennant Creek Boat Ramp
- Waco
Campgrounds
- Airport Park
- Owl Creek - Belton Lake
- Falls On The Brazos Park
- Live Oak Ridge Park - Belton Lake
- Westcliff - Belton Lake
- Belton Lake Military - Fort Hood
Fishing spots
Track Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam
Where does the data for Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 8 Dam.