Box Lake Dam dam
Box Lake Dam
Located in Collin, Texas, the Box Lake Dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and providing a small fish pond. Completed in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and spans a length of 940 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 46 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and is regularly inspected, enforced, and permitted by the state agency. Despite not having a spillway, the dam has a single outlet gate for water release. The risk assessment for the Box Lake Dam has been rated as high, highlighting the importance of effective risk management measures and emergency preparedness.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by the Box Lake Dam's role in providing essential services while also facing potential risks. Its location on the Cottonwood Branch river, under the jurisdiction of the Fort Worth District, showcases the intersection of human infrastructure with natural ecosystems. As discussions around water management and climate resilience continue, the Box Lake Dam serves as a case study for balancing multiple uses of water resources while ensuring safety and sustainability.
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 Box 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 | → |
| Wilson Ck Dws Of Hwy 75 At Mckinney | 114 cfs | → |
| Little Elm Ck Nr Aubrey | 27 cfs | → |
| Indian Ck At Fm 2281 | 35 cfs | → |
| E Fk Trinity Rv Nr Mckinney | 174 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Lewisville | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Box Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Sky Drive The Colony
- Westlake Park Hickory Creek
- Trotline Road Lewisville
- 1b Road Lewisville
- Big Sandy Boat Ramp
- Kelton Avenue Hickory Creek
Campgrounds
- Little Elm Park
- Constellation Park Campsite #4
- Constellation Park Campsite #3
- Constellation Park Campsite #1
- Constellation Park Campsite #2
- Erwin Park - Mckinney
Fishing spots
Track Box 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 Box Lake Dam
Where does the data for Box 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 Box Lake Dam.