Bright Lake Dam dam
Bright Lake Dam
Bright Lake Dam, located in Denton, Texas, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches 975 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 208 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, the dam holds a normal storage of 150 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 17 acres. The dam is situated on TR-Indian Creek and falls under the regulatory oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
While Bright Lake Dam does not have a spillway, it is equipped with one outlet gate. The dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, and its hazard potential is listed as not available. However, a risk assessment has categorized the structure as having a high risk level. With no associated structures and no recent inspection dates available, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unknown. Despite these uncertainties, Bright Lake Dam continues to serve as a recreational asset in the area, inviting enthusiasts of water resources and climate to appreciate its presence in the scenic landscape of Denton, 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 Bright 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 Lewisville | 350 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv Nr Carrollton | 279 cfs | → |
| Denton Ck Nr Grapevine | 30 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv At Spur 348 | 330 cfs | → |
| Doe Br At Us Hwy 380 Nr Prosper | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bright 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 Bright 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 Bright Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bright 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 Bright Lake Dam.