Lake Brazos Dam dam
Lake Brazos Dam
Lake Brazos Dam, located in Waco, Texas, is a crucial structure on the Brazos River primarily serving for recreational purposes. Constructed in 1970 by FORREST AND COTTON AND YOUNG BROS INC, FREESE AND NICHOLS, this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and a length of 650 feet. Its spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 523 feet to handle a maximum discharge of 100,000 cubic feet per second. The dam has a storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 3,537 acre-feet.
Although the dam has undergone modifications in 1988 and 2008 for structural enhancements, its condition is currently not rated. It is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and its risk assessment is considered moderate. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in 2010, ensuring that necessary measures are in place to address any potential hazards. With its picturesque location and significant role in water resource management, Lake Brazos Dam stands as a vital asset for both the local community and climate enthusiasts.
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 Lake Brazos Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 292 cfs | → |
| Hog Ck Nr Crawford | 15 cfs | → |
| Middle Bosque Rv Nr Mcgregor | 54 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Aquilla | 90 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Valley Mills | 41 cfs | → |
| Aquilla Ck Abv Aquilla | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Brazos Dam.
Boat launches
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 908-998, Waco
- North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard Waco
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 3801, Waco
- Waco Lake Hike &Amp;Amp; Bike Trail Waco
- Koehne Park Drive, Waco
- Pep Club Road 299, Hallsburg
Fishing spots
Track Lake Brazos 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 Lake Brazos Dam
Where does the data for Lake Brazos 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 Lake Brazos Dam.