Browns Lake Railroad Dam dam
Browns Lake Railroad Dam
Browns Lake Railroad Dam, located in Rusk, Texas, was completed in 1905 and serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This earth dam with a height of 19 feet and length of 320 feet holds a storage capacity of 296 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 70 acres for outdoor activities. Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, with a high risk assessment of 2 due to its lack of a spillway and unknown hazard potential.
Owned privately, Browns Lake Railroad Dam overlooks TR-Mill Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the state of Texas. Although it is not regulated by state agencies, it is subject to state permitting and inspection requirements. The primary purpose of the dam is recreation, attracting visitors to its scenic surroundings and offering a tranquil retreat for nature lovers. Despite its historical significance and contribution to the local community, the dam's condition and safety measures remain uncertain, making it an intriguing site for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Browns Lake Railroad Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 8 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Bl Longview | 356 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Abv Longview | 298 cfs | → |
| E Fk Angelina Rv Nr Cushing | 22 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater | 267 cfs | → |
| Mud Ck Nr Jacksonville | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Browns Lake Railroad Dam.
Boat launches
- Estes Parkway 5001, Lakeport
- Tx 149 Easton
- South Tyler Street 901, Gladewater
- Boat Launch Road Harrison County
Campgrounds
- City Park Camp - Overton
- Bee Tree Camping Loop
- Broken Bowl Camping Area
- Shelter Camping Area
- Martin Creek Lake State Park
- Rosie Jones Park - Lake Murvaul
Fishing spots
Track Browns Lake Railroad 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 Browns Lake Railroad Dam
Where does the data for Browns Lake Railroad 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 Browns Lake Railroad Dam.