Lake Forest Falls Dam dam
Lake Forest Falls Dam
Located in Montgomery, Texas, the Lake Forest Falls Dam stands as a testament to both engineering prowess and natural beauty. Built in 1960, this private dam on Base Creek serves as a hub for recreational activities, offering a surface area of 80 acres for visitors to enjoy. With a maximum storage capacity of 925 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 605 acre-feet, the dam provides both practical utility and aesthetic appeal.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Lake Forest Falls Dam has a hydraulic height of 29 feet and a structural height of 29 feet, making it a substantial earth dam with a buttress core type. The dam's spillway, with a width of 110 feet, is uncontrolled and allows for the release of water during peak flow events. Despite being classified as having a fair condition assessment, the dam is subject to regular inspections every five years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
With a moderate risk assessment rating and no designated emergency action plan (EAP) in place, the Lake Forest Falls Dam presents a unique blend of recreational opportunity and potential hazard. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the dam's history and features, they are reminded of the delicate balance between human intervention and nature's forces in shaping our landscapes.
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 Forest Falls 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 | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Conroe | 75 cfs | → |
| Bear Branch At Research Blvd | 27 cfs | → |
| Panther Branch At Gosling Rd | 37 cfs | → |
| Dry Ck At Fm 2978 | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Forest Falls 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
- Cagle Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205
- Cagle Rec Area
- Cagle Recreation Area
- Kelly's Pond Campground
- Kelly's Pond Campground: (936) 344-6205
Track Lake Forest Falls 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 Forest Falls Dam
Where does the data for Lake Forest Falls 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 Forest Falls Dam.