Lake Dickens Dam Dam
Lake Dickens Dam
Lake Dickens Dam, located in Polk, Texas, stands as a testament to engineering excellence and serves as a vital resource for recreation enthusiasts. Built in 1962, this earth dam with a structural height of 35 feet and a hydraulic height of 32 feet, provides a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, making it a popular destination for water sports and outdoor activities. Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for its condition, posing a moderate risk due to high hazard potential.
Managed by a private owner, Lake Dickens Dam overlooks the tranquil TR-Woods Creek, offering a serene backdrop for visitors to enjoy. While the dam lacks a spillway, it boasts an outlet gate for controlled water release. Although it has not undergone recent inspections, the dam remains a vital piece of infrastructure for the surrounding community, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and assessment to ensure the safety and longevity of the structure.
With a strong emphasis on recreation, Lake Dickens Dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources for the region. The dam continues to be a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities, catering to water and climate enthusiasts alike. As efforts are made to address the moderate risk associated with the dam, it stands as a symbol of the delicate balance between harnessing water resources for human enjoyment while also ensuring the safety and sustainability of our environment.
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 Dickens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Long King Ck At Livingston | 59 cfs | → |
| Menard Ck Nr Rye | 310 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Goodrich | 6,590 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Rockland | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Romayor | 6,850 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo Ck At Onalaska | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Dickens Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Lake Dickens Dam
Where does the data for Lake Dickens 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 below 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.
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.