Lake Thunderbird Dam dam
Lake Thunderbird Dam
Lake Thunderbird Dam, located in Polk, Texas, is a privately owned structure that serves multiple purposes including recreation and water supply. The dam, designed by Municipal Engineering Co, is an earth-type dam with a buttress core and stands at a height of 18 feet, with a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a structural height of 20 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 93 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 55 acre-feet, making it a vital resource for the surrounding area.
Despite being regulated and inspected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the dam's condition assessment is not rated, and its hazard potential is listed as not available. The risk assessment for Lake Thunderbird Dam is considered high, with a DSAC risk level of 2. The dam does not have a spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in August 1987, and there is no information available on the frequency of inspections or the preparation of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
Overall, Lake Thunderbird Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and water supply in the region. However, with its high risk assessment and lack of recent assessment data, there is a need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of this important water resource infrastructure.
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 Thunderbird Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long King Ck At Livingston | 39 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Goodrich | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo Ck At Onalaska | 55 cfs | → |
| Menard Ck Nr Rye | 41 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Romayor | 10,600 cfs | → |
| E Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Cleveland | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Thunderbird Dam.
Boat launches
- State Park Road 65 1034, Livingston
- Livingston Trail Polk County
- Barn Hill Road, Shepherd
- Fm 2457 4298, Polk County
- Caney Creek Drive 401, Polk County
Campgrounds
- Lake Livingston State Park
- Wolf Creek Park - Lake Livingston
- Double Lake
- Double Lake Recreation Area
- Double Lake Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205
- Lone Star Trail Primitive Camp Site Number 1
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Preserve Boundary Of The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Village Creek
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Trinity River
- Farm To Market Road 1375 To East Fork Of San Jacinto River
- State Highway 7 To Us Highway 59
- Confluence With Big Sandy Creek To Confluence With The Neches River
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Big Sandy Creek
Track Lake Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird Dam
Where does the data for Lake Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird Dam.