Ball Lake Dam dam
Ball Lake Dam
Ball Lake Dam, located in Jack County, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1977 with a primary purpose listed as "Other." Standing at a height of 19 feet and spanning 250 feet in length, this dam has a maximum storage capacity of 198 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 63 acre-feet. Despite being of high risk (level 2), the dam does not have a spillway and is not regulated by the state.
Situated on the TR-WEST FORK-TRINITY RIVER, Ball Lake Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the area. With no associated structures and minimal inspection data available, the dam's condition remains unrated. Despite lacking certain safety features like a spillway and updated emergency action plans, the dam continues to provide essential water storage and management functions for the region.
As an earth dam with buttress core types, Ball Lake Dam serves as a critical water resource for the surrounding community. While it may pose a high risk due to its lack of certain safety features and regulatory oversight, the dam's importance in managing water resources in the region cannot be understated. Enthusiasts and climate advocates can appreciate the complexities and challenges associated with managing and maintaining such essential infrastructure in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Ball Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk Trinity Rv Nr Jacksboro | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Wichita Rv Nr Archer City | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Wichita Rv Abv Henrietta | 0 cfs | → |
| E Fk Little Wichita Rv Nr Henrietta | · | → |
| Belknap Ck Nr Ringgold | 112 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Bridgeport | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ball Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Archer County
- Fm 2606 Clay County
- Pawnee Trail 498, Clay County
- Boat Ramp Road Clay County
- County Road 1638 Wise County
- Runaway Bay Marina
Campgrounds
- Richardson State Park
- Selma City Park - Lake Amon Carter
- Lake Arrowhead State Park
- Wise County Park
- Pelham City Park
- Hapgood Rv Park
Track Ball 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 Ball Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ball 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 Ball Lake Dam.