Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier dam
Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier
The Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier, located in Jefferson County, Texas, serves as a crucial structure for irrigation purposes along the Spindletop Bayou. Completed in 1954, this buttress dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 360 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 375 acre-feet, the barrier effectively prevents saltwater intrusion and maintains a reliable water supply for agricultural needs in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier plays a key role in water resource management. Despite its age, the dam's high hazard potential and risk assessment rating of 2 highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. While the barrier currently does not feature a spillway, outlet gates are in place to control water flow and mitigate any potential risks associated with flooding or other emergencies.
As a vital component of the region's water infrastructure, the Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier stands as a testament to the importance of balancing water resource management with environmental protection. With its strategic location and significant impact on irrigation operations, this barrier continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding water quality and supply for the community.
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 Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity Rv At Wallisville | 2,180 cfs | → |
| Pine Island Bayou Nr Sour Lake | 98 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Saltwater Barrier At Beaumont | 6,480 cfs | → |
| Pine Island Bayou Abv Bi Pump Plant | 348 cfs | → |
| Coastal Water Authority Canal Nr Dayton | 858 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Liberty | 7,570 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier.
Boat launches
- Russell Rd, Texas
- Highway 124, Bolivar Peninsula
- Anahuac Boat Ramp
- Sabine Lake Boat Ramp
- Sabine Pass Public Boat Ramps
- Lakefront Pier
Campgrounds
- Winnie - Stowell County Park
- Rollover Pass
- Double Bayou County Park
- White Memorial County Park
- Fort Anahuac County Park
- Job Beason County Park
Paddle runs
- Preserve Boundary In The Lance Rosier Unit To Confluence With The Neches River
- Preserve Boundary In The Lance Rosier Unit To Confluence With Pine Island Bayou
- Hwy 96 Bridge To Neches River Saltwater Barrier
- Confluence With Big Sandy Creek To Confluence With The Neches River
Track Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier 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 Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier
Where does the data for Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier 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 Spindletop Weir Saltwater Barrier.