Wright Patman Dam dam
Wright Patman Dam
Wright Patman Dam, located on the Sulphur River in Texas, was completed in 1954 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for flood risk reduction. With a height of 106 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 6.5 million acre-feet, the dam serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, recreation, and water supply. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 200 feet, is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 81,000 cubic feet per second during high water events to reduce peak flooding levels downstream.
Despite its risk classification as moderate, the dam's potential impacts in the event of a breach are significant, especially for downstream communities like Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana. The USACE actively manages the dam's risk by conducting emergency exercises, updating the Emergency Action Plan, and implementing interim risk reduction measures such as stockpiling materials to prevent embankment erosion. Regular dam inspections, detailed monitoring systems, and pre-positioned flood fighting materials ensure the structure's integrity and prompt response to changing conditions. Overall, Wright Patman Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks while safeguarding public safety and the environment.
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 Wright Patman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur Rv Nr Texarkana | 921 cfs | → |
| Red River At Index | 1,860 cfs | → |
| Anderson Ck At Hwy 98 Nr Simms | 388 cfs | → |
| Red River At Spring Bank | 4,250 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv At Ih 30 Nr Dalby Springs | 316 cfs | → |
| White Oak Ck At Ih 30 Nr Omaha | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wright Patman Dam.
Boat launches
- Elliott Bluff Boat Ramp Bowie County
- Us 59 Bowie County
- Piney Point Park Road Cass County
- Intake Road Bowie County
- North Shore Landing
- Clear Springs Park 132, Bowie County
Campgrounds
- Piney Point - Wright Patman Lake
- Rocky Point - Wright Patman Lake
- Intake Hill Park- Wright Patman Lake
- Clear Springs - Wright Patman Lake
- Cass County Park
- Kelly Creek Park - Lake Wright Patman
Fishing spots
Track Wright Patman 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 Wright Patman Dam
Where does the data for Wright Patman 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 Wright Patman Dam.