The Lake Dam dam
The Lake Dam
The Lake Dam, located in Montgomery County, Texas, was completed in 1950 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. Designed by Joe Waddill, this earth dam with a buttress core stands at a height of 10 feet and spans 850 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 169 acre-feet, the dam overlooks Little Caney Creek and covers a surface area of 16 acres.
Although the dam lacks a spillway and has a hazard potential that is not available, its risk assessment is categorized as high. The condition of the dam is not rated, and its last inspection dates back to January 20, 1982. Despite these factors, the dam remains state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, The Lake Dam offers an intriguing case study in dam management and risk assessment. With its unique design features and historical significance, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of recreational needs, environmental regulations, and infrastructure maintenance in the context of water resource management.
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 The Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Conroe | 475 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Bl Lk Conroe Nr Conroe | 262 cfs | → |
| Caney Ck Nr Splendora | 35 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Sendera Ranch Rd Nr Conroe | 272 cfs | → |
| Panther Branch At Gosling Rd | 11 cfs | → |
| Bear Branch At Research Blvd | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near The Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Piney Shores Boat Ramp
- Conroe Boat Ramp 830
- Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands
- Boat Launch The Woodlands
- Edgewater Drive 32210, Montgomery County
- Scotts Ridge Swim Area
Track The 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 The Lake Dam
Where does the data for The 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 The Lake Dam.