Vial Lake Dam dam
Vial Lake Dam
Vial Lake Dam, located in Collin, Texas, was completed in 1965 and stands at a height of 21 feet with a length of 654 feet. This Earth dam, primarily owned by the local government, serves a crucial purpose in water resource management for the region. The dam's design by USDA NRCS and regulation by TCEQ ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state standards.
With a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, Vial Lake Dam plays a vital role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks along TR-PANTHER CREEK. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam remains a crucial piece of infrastructure for the community, with a moderate risk rating. The presence of two uncontrolled outlet gates and a spillway width of 47 feet speaks to the dam's functionality in handling maximum discharges.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by Vial Lake Dam's history, design specifications, and its role in safeguarding the local area from potential hazards. As a key component of the region's water management system, the dam's continued maintenance and adherence to state regulations are essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of the surrounding environment.
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 Vial Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Doe Br At Us Hwy 380 Nr Prosper | 106 cfs | → |
| Little Elm Ck Nr Aubrey | 27 cfs | → |
| Wilson Ck Dws Of Hwy 75 At Mckinney | 114 cfs | → |
| Indian Ck At Fm 2281 | 35 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Lewisville | 452 cfs | → |
| E Fk Trinity Rv Nr Mckinney | 174 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vial Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Sky Drive The Colony
- Westlake Park Hickory Creek
- Big Sandy Boat Ramp
- Trotline Road Lewisville
- 1b Road Lewisville
- Kelton Avenue Hickory Creek
Campgrounds
- Constellation Park Campsite #4
- Constellation Park Campsite #1
- Constellation Park Campsite #3
- Constellation Park Campsite #2
- Little Elm Park
- Erwin Park - Mckinney
Fishing spots
Track Vial 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 Vial Lake Dam
Where does the data for Vial 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 Vial Lake Dam.