Ellison Creek Dam dam
Ellison Creek Dam
Ellison Creek Dam, nestled in Morris County, Texas, stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship. Completed in 1943, this earth dam stretches 5800 feet in length and reaches a height of 49 feet, with a capacity to store up to 36,000 acre-feet of water from the Ellison Creek. The dam serves multiple purposes, including recreation and water resource management, making it a vital cornerstone of the local community.
Managed by private owners and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Ellison Creek Dam boasts a fair condition assessment as of August 2015, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for surrounding residents. The dam's spillway, with a width of 1800 feet, provides essential flood control measures, while the presence of two uncontrolled outlet gates offers additional hydraulic management capabilities. With a moderate hazard potential rating, the dam has undergone modifications in 1970 and 1999 to enhance its operational efficiency and safety protocols.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts appreciate the significance of Ellison Creek Dam, its role in sustaining the local ecosystem and safeguarding against potential hazards remains paramount. With a rich history of service and a commitment to excellence in dam management, this engineering marvel continues to stand as a symbol of resilience and innovation in water resource 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 Ellison Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Cypress Ck Nr Pittsburg | 15 cfs | → |
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Ore City | 96 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck At Us Hwy 271 Nr Pittsburg | 11 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Nr Jefferson | 17 cfs | → |
| Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson | 36 cfs | → |
| White Oak Ck At Ih 30 Nr Omaha | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ellison Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Lone Star Park Boat Ramp
- Lone Star City Park
- Fm 997 Morris County
- Cedar Springs Boat Ramp
- Park Road 17 Morris County
- Pine Hill Park
Campgrounds
- Lake Of The Pines
- Cedar Springs - Lake Of The Pines
- Cedar Ridge Camping Area
- Daingerfield State Park
- Alley Creek - Lake Of The Pines
- Camp Mabey
Fishing spots
Track Ellison Creek 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 Ellison Creek Dam
Where does the data for Ellison Creek 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 Ellison Creek Dam.