Waterloo Park Dam dam
Waterloo Park Dam
Waterloo Park Dam, located in Travis County, Texas, serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along Waller Creek. Built in 2014 by KBR/ESPEY, this concrete dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 150 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 35 acre-feet and a normal storage of 12 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding.
Equipped with a controlled spillway and one other controlled outlet gate, Waterloo Park Dam has a hydraulic height of 19 feet and a structural height of 35 feet. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as very high, indicating the importance of its maintenance and monitoring. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam is regularly inspected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood risk management.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Waterloo Park Dam presents an intriguing case study in modern dam engineering and flood control. As a multi-arch concrete structure situated along Waller Creek, this dam showcases innovative design and construction techniques. With its high hazard potential and very high risk assessment rating, Waterloo Park Dam highlights the critical role of infrastructure in mitigating flood risks and protecting communities from the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Waterloo Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Waller Ck At Red River St | 5 cfs | → |
| Waller Ck At E 1st St | 12 cfs | → |
| Shoal Ck At W 12th St | 35 cfs | → |
| Boggy Ck At Webberville Rd | 1 cfs | → |
| Boggy Ck At Manor Rd | 4 cfs | → |
| Barton Ck Abv Barton Spgs At Austin | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waterloo Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Festival Beach Road, Austin
- Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail, Austin
- South Pleasant Valley Road 1-79, Austin
- Redbud Trail, Austin
- North Capital Of Texas Highway 5015, Austin
- Greenshores Drive 6921, Travis County
Campgrounds
- Camp Mabry Military
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Sandy Creek - Lake Travis
Fishing spots
Track Waterloo Park 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 Waterloo Park Dam
Where does the data for Waterloo Park 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 Waterloo Park Dam.