Nelson Lake Levee dam
Nelson Lake Levee
Nelson Lake Levee, located in Waller, Texas, near Houston, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1971 primarily for irrigation purposes. Standing at a height of 9 feet and spanning a length of 6500 feet, this levee has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 180 acre-feet. Despite its critical role in irrigation, the dam does not have a spillway and is rated as having a high risk potential, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and maintenance.
Managed by the Fort Worth District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Nelson Lake Levee has not undergone any recent condition assessments, making its current safety status unknown. The dam's hazard potential is not available, and it is not rated for its condition. With no emergency action plan in place and limited risk management measures documented, there may be concerns about the levee's ability to withstand potential flooding events. The lack of updated information on inspection frequency and emergency procedures could pose challenges in ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure.
Given the importance of water resource management and climate resilience, stakeholders involved in the oversight and maintenance of Nelson Lake Levee should prioritize conducting regular inspections, updating emergency action plans, and implementing risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards. Enhancing the dam's safety measures and ensuring its structural integrity will be crucial in safeguarding the surrounding community and maximizing the levee's effectiveness for irrigation purposes in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Nelson Lake Levee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cypress Ck At Katy-Hockley Rd Nr Hockley | 53 cfs | → |
| Cypress Ck At House-Hahl Rd Nr Cypress | 371 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Bayou Nr Katy | 1,160 cfs | → |
| S Mayde Ck At Heathergold Dr Nr Addicks | 580 cfs | → |
| Bear Ck Nr Barker | 230 cfs | → |
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Cypress | 110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nelson Lake Levee.
Boat launches
- Highway 159 East 11980, Bellville
- Edgewater Drive 32210, Montgomery County
- Meadowlark Lane 1105, Sugar Land
- Woodway Drive Houston
- Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands
- Boat Launch The Woodlands
Campgrounds
- Group Camping Area
- Stephen Austin State Park
- Spring Creek Park
- Grizzly Pines - Gay Campground
- Texas Rennaissance Festival - Loud - Barbarian Camping
- Texas Rennaissance Festival - Quiet - Family Camping
Fishing spots
Track Nelson Lake Levee 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 Nelson Lake Levee
Where does the data for Nelson Lake Levee 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 Nelson Lake Levee.