Lake Placid Dam dam
Lake Placid Dam
Lake Placid Dam, located in Smith County, Texas, stands as a vital structure for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. Constructed in 1966, this earth dam with a height of 18 feet and a length of 1500 feet serves as a crucial resource for the local community. With a storage capacity of 774 acre-feet, it plays a significant role in water resource management in the area.
Despite its importance, Lake Placid Dam has not been without its challenges. With a high hazard potential and a risk assessment rating of 2 (high), the dam requires constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Although the last inspection took place in 1972, it is essential for regulatory agencies like TCEQ to conduct regular assessments to prevent any potential risks associated with the dam.
As a private-owned structure, Lake Placid Dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between water resource management and environmental conservation. With its primary purpose focused on fire protection and livestock maintenance, it highlights the interconnectedness of climate, water, and local communities. Continued oversight and management of the dam are crucial to sustain its functionality and ensure the safety of those who rely on it for their livelihoods.
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 Placid Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 259 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Mud Ck Nr Jacksonville | 290 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Neches | 143 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 84 cfs | → |
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Placid Dam.
Boat launches
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- County Road 3504, Bullard
- Farm-To-Market Road 1892, Frankston
- Fm 14 Smith County
- County Road 3440 2448, Wood County
- South Shore Drive 3301-3371, Jacksonville
Campgrounds
- Tyler State Park
- City Park Camp - Overton
- Lake Hawkins County Rv Park
- Fish Hawke Point
- Lake Jacksonville Campground
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
Fishing spots
Track Lake Placid 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 Placid Dam
Where does the data for Lake Placid 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 Placid Dam.