Benbrook Dam dam
Benbrook Dam
Benbrook Dam in Fort Worth, Texas, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. Completed in 1951 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam stands at 134 feet high and has a storage capacity of 410,000 acre-feet. Despite its flood reduction benefits, Benbrook Dam still poses a moderate risk in the event of an extreme, unprecedented flood event that could potentially lead to dam breaching and catastrophic flooding downstream, impacting communities in Tarrant and Dallas Counties, including downtown Fort Worth and Dallas.
To mitigate risks and ensure public safety, the US Army Corps of Engineers implements various risk management measures for Benbrook Dam. These include regular inspections, surveillance, and maintenance, as well as close coordination with local emergency managers to update evacuation plans and enhance emergency response capabilities. The Emergency Action Plan is annually updated and exercised, and stakeholders are regularly informed of the risks associated with the dam. Additionally, USACE continuously evaluates and implements interim risk reduction measures to address any potential vulnerabilities and ensure the dam's structural integrity.
Despite the potential risks associated with extreme flood events, the ongoing efforts by the US Army Corps of Engineers demonstrate a commitment to monitoring and maintaining Benbrook Dam to protect downstream communities and minimize the potential impact of a dam breach. The collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, along with comprehensive risk management strategies, aims to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness in the face of potential flood hazards.
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 Benbrook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Fk Trinity Rv Nr Benbrook | 2 cfs | → |
| Marys Ck At Benbrook | 195 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Trinity Rv At Kelly Rd Nr Aledo | 407 cfs | → |
| Clear Fk Trinity Rv At Ft Worth | 422 cfs | → |
| Wfk Trinityrv At White Settlement Rd | 313 cfs | → |
| W Fk Trinity Rv At Ft Worth | 896 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Benbrook Dam.
Boat launches
- Rocky Creek Park Road Fort Worth
- Peninsula Road Tarrant County
- Rocky Creek Park Road Tarrant County
- Monticello Drive 8517, Granbury
- Old Tin Top Road 1868-1998, Weatherford
Campgrounds
- Site: Gs, Loop: Mustang Point
- Site: 001, Loop: Mustang Non Site Specific
- Camp Thurman
- Dallas / Arlington Koa
- Hunter Park - Lake Granbury
- Thorp Spring - Lake Granbury
Fishing spots
Track Benbrook 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 Benbrook Dam
Where does the data for Benbrook 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 Benbrook Dam.