Hickory Lake Dam dam
Hickory Lake Dam
Hickory Lake Dam, located in Montgomery, Texas, was completed in 1969 and serves as a critical water resource for the area. The dam stands at 17 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet, with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam is primarily an earth dam with a buttress core type, and its spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 79 feet.
Despite its significance in providing water storage and recreational opportunities, the Hickory Lake Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition as of August 2017. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures to maintain the dam's integrity and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
The Hickory Lake Dam stands as a vital infrastructure in the water management system of Montgomery, Texas, but its poor condition highlights the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management. As a private-owned structure, the responsibility falls on the owners to address any necessary repairs or upgrades to ensure the dam's continued functionality and safety. Climate and water resource enthusiasts would find interest in the unique design and challenges faced by the Hickory Lake Dam, as well as the ongoing efforts to mitigate potential hazards and maintain its important role in the local ecosystem.
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 Hickory Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Bl Lk Conroe Nr Conroe | 100 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Sendera Ranch Rd Nr Conroe | 29 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck Nr Dobbin | 3 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Conroe | 75 cfs | → |
| Dry Ck At Fm 2978 | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear Branch At Research Blvd | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Piney Shores Boat Ramp
- Conroe Boat Ramp 830
- Scotts Ridge Swim Area
- Edgewater Drive 32210, Montgomery County
- Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands
- Boat Launch The Woodlands
Campgrounds
- End Of The Road Spot
- Kelly's Pond Campground
- Kellys Pond Dispersed
- Kelly's Pond Campground: (936) 344-6205
- Cagle Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205
- Cagle Rec Area
Track Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam.