Colonial House Lake Dam dam
Colonial House Lake Dam
Colonial House Lake Dam, located in Denton, Texas, is a recreational dam built in 1960 on Furneaux Creek by the local government. Standing at a height of 17 feet and with a length of 1067 feet, this earth dam with a stone core serves the primary purpose of recreation, offering a surface area of 27 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 139 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam has faced challenges with a poor condition assessment as of April 2021, prompting the need for frequent inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and situated within the Fort Worth District, Colonial House Lake Dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 371 feet and two uncontrolled outlet gates. The dam poses a moderate risk level according to the data, with a hazard potential that is not available. However, the dam's overall risk management measures and emergency action plan status are not specified, indicating potential areas of improvement in the dam's safety protocols. With a drainage area of 4 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 78 acre-feet, the dam plays a critical role in water resource management in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Colonial House Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in balancing the need for recreational amenities with the imperative of maintaining infrastructure safety and regulatory compliance. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s and its location within the picturesque surroundings of Carrollton, Texas, the dam serves as a vital piece of the local landscape. Continued monitoring and upkeep of Colonial House Lake Dam will be essential to ensuring the resilience of water resources and the safety of surrounding communities in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Colonial House Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Ck At Fm 2281 | 10 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Carrollton | 279 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Lewisville | 350 cfs | → |
| Denton Ck Nr Grapevine | 30 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv At Spur 348 | 330 cfs | → |
| White Rock Ck At Greenville Ave | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colonial House Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Sandy Lake Road Coppell
- Blue Sky Drive The Colony
- Trotline Road Lewisville
- 1b Road Lewisville
- Westlake Park Hickory Creek
- Kelton Avenue Hickory Creek
Campgrounds
- Sandy Lake Rv Resort
- Little Elm Park
- Constellation Park Campsite #4
- Constellation Park Campsite #1
- Constellation Park Campsite #3
- Constellation Park Campsite #2
Fishing spots
Track Colonial House 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 Colonial House Lake Dam
Where does the data for Colonial House 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 Colonial House Lake Dam.