Cowden Lake Dam dam
Cowden Lake Dam
Cowden Lake Dam, located in Culberson, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1973 with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, or a small fish pond. The dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 500 feet, with a storage capacity of 210 acre-feet. It is situated on the TR-DELAWARE CREEK and is managed by the Albuquerque District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its age, Cowden Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and the hazard potential is listed as "Not Available." However, the risk assessment indicates a high risk level of 2. There is currently no emergency action plan prepared for the dam, and the inspection frequency and last inspection date are not available. The dam does not have a spillway and has no locks associated with it.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cowden Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in the management and maintenance of aging infrastructure. The lack of detailed information on its condition and emergency preparedness raises questions about the potential risks it may pose. With a high-risk assessment and no updated emergency action plan in place, there is a need for closer monitoring and evaluation of this dam to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the sustainability of its functions.
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 Cowden Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware River Nr Red Bluff | 49 cfs | → |
| Pecos River At Red Bluff | 19 cfs | → |
| Dark Canyon Draw Near Whites City | · | → |
| Pecos River Near Orla | 0 cfs | → |
| Black River Above Malaga | 13 cfs | → |
| Pecos River Near Malaga | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cowden Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Pine Springs - Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Guadalupe Peak Campground
- Pine Top Campground
- Pine Top Backcountry Campground
- Shumyard Canyon Backcountry Campground
- Shumard Campground
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Of All Streams Within Mckittrick Canyon Watershed To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters Of Big Canyon To Nf Boundary
- Headwaters Of Middle Fork Big Canyon And North Fork Big Canyon To Nf Boundary
- Southern Boundary Of Sec 3, T26s, R21e Along Dark Canyon To Confluence Of Dark And Fir Canyons In Sec 25, T25s, R21e
- Headwaters Of Cottonwood Canyon In Sec 32, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Cottonwood And Dark Canyons In Sec 10, T25s, R22e
- Headwaters Of Horse Spring In Sec 13, T25s, R22e To Confluence Of Horse Spring And Horse Canyon In Sec 11, T25s, R22e
Track Cowden 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 Cowden Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cowden 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 Cowden Lake Dam.