Lake Center Dam dam
Lake Center Dam
Lake Center Dam, located in Shelby, Texas, stands as a crucial water supply structure designed by Otto Staerker and completed in 1953. This earth dam, primarily serving the purpose of water supply, spans 2400 feet in length and reaches a height of 27 feet, with a storage capacity of 1825 acre-feet. Situated on Mill Creek, the dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a spillway width of 285 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 26,086 cubic feet per second.
Despite its essential role in water resource management, Lake Center Dam's condition assessment was reported as poor during the last inspection in April 2021. The dam has undergone modifications in 1993 for structural improvements, and it is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam poses a potential hazard that is not currently available for public knowledge. As a local government-owned structure, Lake Center Dam requires ongoing attention and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality and safety in the face of changing climate conditions and water resource demands.
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 Center Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Attoyac Bayou Nr Chireno | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Bayou Grand Cane Near Stanley | · | → |
| Ayish Bayou Nr San Augustine | 176 cfs | → |
| Bayou Lanana At Nacogdoches | 9 cfs | → |
| Bayou San Patricio Near Benson | 1 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Carthage | 9,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Center Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Boles Field: (409) 625-1940
- Boles Field Campground
- Boles Field
- Haley's Ferry Boat Ramp
- Mission Dolores City Rv Park
- Oak Ridge
Fishing spots
- Lake Murvaul
- Sam Rayburn Lake
- Lake Nacogdoches
- Martin Creek Lake
- Bouton Lake: (936) 897-1068
- Lake Striker
Track Lake Center 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 Center Dam
Where does the data for Lake Center 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 Center Dam.