Aquilla Dam dam
Aquilla Dam
Aquilla Dam, also known as Aquilla Lake, is a federal-owned structure in Waco, Texas, designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and completed in 1983 for flood risk reduction along Aquilla Creek. Standing at 104 feet high and spanning 11,800 feet in length, this earth dam has a storage capacity of 420,840 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, recreation, and water supply. However, despite its risk reduction measures, the dam still faces a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment due to potential flooding scenarios that could impact downstream communities, particularly the City of Waco located 25 river miles below.
To mitigate these risks, the USACE implements rigorous surveillance, regular inspections, and routine maintenance to ensure the structural integrity and safety of Aquilla Dam. The Emergency Action Plan is regularly updated and exercised, enhancing emergency response capabilities and coordination with various stakeholders. Despite the potential risks associated with the dam, the proactive risk management measures, including effective communication of risks with stakeholders and emergency managers, aim to reduce the likelihood of a dam breach and minimize the potential impacts on downstream communities in the event of a major flood event or structural failure. Aquilla Dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure for flood control and water management in the region, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Aquilla Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Aquilla Ck Abv Aquilla | 0 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Aquilla | 81 cfs | → |
| Ash Ck At Hwy 171 Nr Malone | 434 cfs | → |
| White Rk Ck At Fm 308 Nr Irene | 498 cfs | → |
| Richland Ck At Hwy 22 Nr Mertens | 309 cfs | → |
| Nolan Rv At Blum | 47 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Aquilla Dam.
Boat launches
- Old School Public Boat Ramp - Aquila Lake
- Farm To Market Road 1947 Spur, Hillsboro
- Farm To Market Road 1534 1026, Whitney
- Farm To Market Road 2114 105, Aquilla
- Hill County
- Farm To Market Road 1244, Whitney
Campgrounds
- Airport Park
- Pecan Point - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Wolf Creek - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Liberty Hill - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Meridian State Park
- Oak Park - Navarro Mills Reservoir
Fishing spots
Track Aquilla 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 Aquilla Dam
Where does the data for Aquilla 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 High 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 Aquilla Dam.