Collins Lake Dam dam
Collins Lake Dam
Collins Lake Dam in Texas, completed in 1965, serves primarily for recreation and water supply purposes. Owned privately, this earth dam with a buttress core stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 1350 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet, the dam is situated on the TR-Rough Creek and is managed by the Fort Worth District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being State-permitted and inspected, Collins Lake Dam lacks a spillway and is not regulated by the state. With a risk assessment rating of High (2), the dam's hazard potential is currently not available, and its condition remains unrated. Emergency action plans, inundation maps, and risk management measures for the dam are also listed as not available. The dam's location in Mills County, Texas, makes it a valuable but potentially risky asset in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Collins Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure built for both recreational and water supply purposes. While it offers storage for up to 105 acre-feet of water, the dam's lack of a spillway and incomplete regulatory oversight raises concerns about its overall safety and management. With a High (2) risk assessment rating and limited information on emergency preparedness, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper infrastructure maintenance and risk mitigation in the face of potential hazards.
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 Collins Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecan Bayou Nr Mullin | 2 cfs | → |
| San Saba Rv At San Saba | 93 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv Nr San Saba | 132 cfs | → |
| Brady Ck At Brady | 0 cfs | → |
| Jim Ned Ck At Cr 140 Nr Coleman | · | → |
| Pecan Bayou Nr Cross Cut | 203 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Collins Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hwy 45 Bridge. Colorado River Access
- Shaw Bend; Cr 124 Bridge. Colorado River Access
- Highway 190 Crossing. Colorado River Access
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Collins Lake 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 Collins Lake Dam
Where does the data for Collins Lake 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 Collins Lake Dam.