Wright Lake Dam dam
Wright Lake Dam
Wright Lake Dam, located in Bowie, Texas, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a length of 485 feet, offering a surface area of 12 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. It is situated on the TR-McKinney Bayou, within the Tulsa District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its age, Wright Lake Dam is state regulated and regularly inspected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 67 acre-feet, making it a valuable resource for water management in the area. While it does not have a spillway or locks, it does have one outlet gate for controlled water release.
With a high hazard potential rating of 2, Wright Lake Dam is considered to pose significant risk in the event of failure. However, its condition assessment is currently not rated, and there is no available information on emergency action plans or risk management measures in place. As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Wright Lake Dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and conservation of water resources in Texas.
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 Wright Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River At Index | 2,600 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv Nr Texarkana | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Anderson Ck At Hwy 98 Nr Simms | 398 cfs | → |
| Red River At Spring Bank | 4,700 cfs | → |
| Saline River Near Lockesburg | 21 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Horatio | 1,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wright Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- University Avenue 7401, Texarkana
- Us 59;Us 71 Little River County
- North Shore Landing
- Intake Road Bowie County
- Clear Springs Park 132, Bowie County
- Farm Road 558 Bowie County
Campgrounds
- Four States Fairgrounds Rv
- Clear Springs - Wright Patman Lake
- Intake Hill Park- Wright Patman Lake
- Millwood State Park
- Piney Point - Wright Patman Lake
- Allens Ferry At Little River
Track Wright 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 Wright Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wright 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 Wright Lake Dam.