Big Mesquite Dam dam
Big Mesquite Dam
Big Mesquite Dam, located in Webb County, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1974 along TR-Los Olmos Creek. Standing at a height of 25 feet with a length of 1700 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 1110 acre-feet and a surface area of 111 acres. While the primary purpose of the dam is listed as 'Other', it serves as a vital resource for water management and storage in the region.
Managed and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Big Mesquite Dam is subject to state inspection, enforcement, and permitting. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. With no spillway and a lack of inundation maps prepared, there are concerns regarding the dam's risk management measures. As a key structure in the area, continuous monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of Big Mesquite Dam for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
In the congressional district of Henry Cuellar, Big Mesquite Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With a notable history dating back to 1974, this earth dam has been a significant feature along TR-Los Olmos Creek. As efforts continue to assess and mitigate risks associated with the dam, its importance in maintaining water security for the community cannot be understated. For enthusiasts of water resources and climate, the ongoing management and maintenance of Big Mesquite Dam serve as a reminder of the critical role infrastructure plays in sustainable resource management.
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 Big Mesquite Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Casimiro Ck Nr Freer | 72 cfs | → |
| Nueces Rv At Cotulla | 2 cfs | → |
| Nueces Rv Nr Tilden | 207 cfs | → |
| Zacate Ck At Laredo | 4 cfs | → |
| Rio Grande At Laredo | 1,760 cfs | → |
| Frio Rv At Tilden | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Mesquite Dam.
Track Big Mesquite 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 Big Mesquite Dam
Where does the data for Big Mesquite 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 Big Mesquite Dam.