Pickens Dam dam
Pickens Dam
Pickens Dam, located in Denton, Texas, was completed in 1966 and serves as a vital recreational resource in the area. The earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 155 acre-feet. Situated on Mustang Creek, the dam provides opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking, making it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Managed by a private owner, Pickens Dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite its relatively small size, the dam has been classified as having a high risk potential, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts. While lacking a spillway, the dam features one outlet gate for water management, contributing to its effective operation and function.
In addition to its recreational purposes, Pickens Dam plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem by providing water storage and flood control capabilities. Despite being privately owned, the dam's significance in water resource management and climate resilience highlights the importance of collaboration between public agencies and private entities to ensure the sustainability and safety of our water infrastructure.
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 Pickens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Elm Ck Nr Aubrey | 2 cfs | → |
| Doe Br At Us Hwy 380 Nr Prosper | 9 cfs | → |
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv At Greenbelt Nr Pilot Point | 34 cfs | → |
| Clear Ck Nr Sanger | 9 cfs | → |
| Hickory Ck At Denton | 1 cfs | → |
| Wilson Ck Dws Of Hwy 75 At Mckinney | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pickens Dam.
Boat launches
- Big Sandy Boat Ramp
- Fairview Circle Denton County
- Denton County
- Blue Sky Drive The Colony
- Westlake Park Hickory Creek
- Fm 1190 Denton County
Campgrounds
- Constellation Park Campsite #1
- Constellation Park Campsite #4
- Constellation Park Campsite #2
- Constellation Park Campsite #3
- Isle Du Bois - Roberts Lake State Park
- Little Elm Park
Fishing spots
Track Pickens 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 Pickens Dam
Where does the data for Pickens 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 Pickens Dam.