Lake Carolyn Levee dam
Lake Carolyn Levee
Lake Carolyn Levee in Dallas, Texas is a privately-owned structure designed by Forrest and Cotton, as well as Freese & Nichols. Completed in 1977, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and stretches 16,000 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 4,008 acre-feet of water for irrigation purposes. The levee also serves recreational needs, with a surface area of 112 acres for outdoor activities.
The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and has undergone modifications in 2011 to enhance its hydraulic capacity. With an uncontrolled spillway and one outlet gate, Lake Carolyn Levee has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not rated, regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement ensure the structure's integrity and safety. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this levee on the Elm Fork Trinity River offers a glimpse into the intersection of water management, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship in Texas.
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 Carolyn Levee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv At Spur 348 | 545 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Carrollton | 313 cfs | → |
| Mountain Ck At Grand Prairie | 305 cfs | → |
| W Fk Trinity Rv At Grand Prairie | 664 cfs | → |
| Turtle Ck At Dallas | 8 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Dallas | 2,510 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Carolyn Levee.
Boat launches
- Sylvan Avenue Dallas
- Sandy Lake Road Coppell
- Santa Fe Avenue Dallas
- Farris Branch Boat Ramp
- Trawick Boat Ramp
- Dove Loop Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Lake Carolyn Levee 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 Carolyn Levee
Where does the data for Lake Carolyn Levee 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 Carolyn Levee.