Couch Gss dam
Couch Gss
Couch Gss is a private dam located in Ellis County, Texas, along the TR-COLORADO RIVER. Built in 1977 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans 487 feet in length. Its primary purpose is for fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond, with a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet.
Despite its relatively small size, Couch Gss poses a high risk (2) according to the data available, although its hazard potential and condition assessment are marked as "Not Available" and "Not Rated" respectively. The dam does not have a spillway and is not regulated by the state, but it does have inspection and permitting requirements in place. This structure, while not a major water resource, serves important purposes for the local community and wildlife.
As a point of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Couch Gss provides a glimpse into the lesser-known dams that play a crucial role in providing water for various uses. Its location along the Colorado River tributary and its construction by the NRCS highlight the interconnectedness of water infrastructure across different agencies and the importance of maintaining and monitoring these structures for safety and sustainability in the face of changing climate 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 Couch Gss -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chambers Ck At Fm 55 Nr Avalon | 7 cfs | → |
| Richland Ck At Hwy 22 Nr Mertens | 309 cfs | → |
| Waxahachie Ck Nr Bardwell | 1 cfs | → |
| White Rk Ck At Fm 308 Nr Irene | 498 cfs | → |
| Waxahachie Ck At Waxahachie | 15 cfs | → |
| Ash Ck At Hwy 171 Nr Malone | 434 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Couch Gss.
Boat launches
- Lakeshore Drive Waxahachie
- Lakeshore Drive 101, Waxahachie
- Old Park Road Ellis County
- Ellis County
- High View Marina Road, Ennis
- Beach Road Ennis
Campgrounds
- Mott - Bardwell Lake
- Waxahachie - Bardwell Lake
- Highview - Bardwell Lake
- Wolf Creek - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Pecan Point - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Oak Park - Navarro Mills Reservoir
Fishing spots
Track Couch Gss 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 Couch Gss
Where does the data for Couch Gss 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 Couch Gss.