Rotello Lake Dam dam
Rotello Lake Dam
Rotello Lake Dam, located in Brazos, Texas, was completed in 1959 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond. This private earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 740 feet, providing a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. Positioned on TR-Jones Creek, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the Galveston District, US Army Corps of Engineers, with no federal funding or oversight.
Despite being rated as "Not Available" for hazard potential and "Not Rated" for condition assessment, the risk assessment for Rotello Lake Dam indicates a high risk level. However, there are currently no risk management measures in place, and the emergency action plan status is unclear. With no spillway and limited drainage area, the dam presents challenges in the event of a significant discharge.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rotello Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned earth dam with potentially high risk factors. With a lack of federal regulation and oversight, there are concerns about the dam's emergency preparedness and overall safety. Further research and monitoring may be necessary to ensure the long-term stability and functionality of this essential water resource infrastructure.
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 Rotello Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bee Ck Trib A At College Station | 0 cfs | → |
| Bee Ck Main At College Station | 0 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Hempstead | 9,620 cfs | → |
| Yegua Ck Nr Somerville | 0 cfs | → |
| Davidson Ck Nr Lyons | 56 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck Nr Dobbin | 111 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rotello Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Texas 105 20000, Navasota
- Gibbon Creek Boat Ramp
- Farm To Market 50 13508-13698, Brenham
- North Overlook Park Drive 12870-12872, Brenham
- Washington County
- Burleson County
Campgrounds
- Navasota Rv Park
- Gibbons Creek Reservoir
- Grizzly Pines - Gay Campground
- Texas Rennaissance Festival - Loud - Barbarian Camping
- Texas Rennaissance Festival - Quiet - Family Camping
- Overlook - Lake Somerville
Fishing spots
Track Rotello 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 Rotello Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rotello 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 Rotello Lake Dam.