Birdwell Lake Dam dam
Birdwell Lake Dam
Birdwell Lake Dam, situated in Tyler, Texas, serves as a vital water resource for irrigation and recreation purposes. Built in 1945, this private-owned Earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 142 acre-feet. With a spillway width of 83 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1225 cubic feet per second.
Birdwell Lake Dam is nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Brush Creek and covers a surface area of 13 acres. The dam's structural integrity and hazard potential are currently rated as not available, with a moderate risk assessment. Despite not being regulated by the state, the dam undergoes regular inspections and meets safety guidelines, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and environment. Additionally, the dam boasts two uncontrolled outlet gates, further enhancing its functionality and operational efficiency.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Birdwell Lake Dam represents a unique engineering feat that combines functionality with recreational opportunities. With its strategic location and impressive design features, this dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing and managing water resources for the benefit of both agricultural and leisure pursuits. The ongoing maintenance and inspection efforts underscore a commitment to safety and sustainability, making Birdwell Lake Dam a valuable asset in the region's water management infrastructure.
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 Birdwell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neches Rv Nr Town Bluff | 4,390 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Rockland | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Village Ck Nr Kountze | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv At Evadale | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Big Cow Ck Nr Newton | 62 cfs | → |
| Menard Ck Nr Rye | 59 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birdwell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tyler County
- Jasper County
- Sandy Creek Public Boat Ramp
- Fm 418 Boat Ramp
- Farm To Market Road 3124, Zavalla
- Ashcamp Loop, Broaddus
Campgrounds
- Campers Cove - Town Bluff Reservoir
- B.A. Steinhagen Lake Campground
- Magnolia Ridge - Town Bluff Reservoir
- Lake Tejas City Park
- Martin Dies State Park
- Martin Dies Junior State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Town Bluff Dam To Hwy 96 Bridge
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Big Sandy Creek
- Us Highway 69 To Ba Steinhagen Reservoir
- Us Highway 59 To Us Highway 69
- Confluence With Big Sandy Creek To Confluence With The Neches River
- Preserve Boundary Of The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Village Creek
Track Birdwell 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 Birdwell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Birdwell 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 Birdwell Lake Dam.