Schenck Lake Dam dam
Schenck Lake Dam
Schenck Lake Dam, located in Waller County, Texas, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1980. The primary purpose of this Earth dam, standing at a height of 26 feet and a length of 390 feet, is to serve as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a storage capacity of 61 acre-feet and a drainage area of 170 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in fire protection, stock maintenance, and recreational activities in the area.
Despite being state-regulated and inspected, Schenck Lake Dam lacks a spillway and has a Hazard Potential rating of "Not Available". However, its Risk Assessment indicates a high level of risk (2) without further details on risk management measures. The dam's condition is not rated, and emergency preparedness information such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and inundation maps are not available at this time.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Schenck Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned Earth dam with a unique focus on enhancing fish and wildlife habitats. The dam's location along TR-Buckners Branch, its structural design, and the absence of certain safety features raise questions about its long-term resilience and management practices. As discussions around climate change and water resource management continue to evolve, Schenck Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of balancing environmental conservation with infrastructure safety and emergency preparedness.
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 Schenck Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv At San Felipe | 4,000 cfs | → |
| Mill Ck Nr Bellville | 14 cfs | → |
| Cypress Ck At Katy-Hockley Rd Nr Hockley | 6 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Bayou Nr Katy | 15 cfs | → |
| S Mayde Ck At Heathergold Dr Nr Addicks | 18 cfs | → |
| Cypress Ck At House-Hahl Rd Nr Cypress | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schenck Lake Dam.
Boat launches
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 Schenck 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 Schenck Lake Dam
Where does the data for Schenck 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 Schenck Lake Dam.