Helm Lake No 2 Dam dam
Helm Lake No 2 Dam
Located in Hopkins, Texas, Helm Lake No 2 Dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence. Completed in 1964, this earth dam with a buttress core reaches a height of 23 feet and spans 600 feet in length. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam provides a storage capacity of 184 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 15 acres, making it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Helm Lake No 2 Dam is subject to state inspections, permitting, and enforcement. Despite its high hazard potential rating, the dam's condition remains unrated, highlighting the need for ongoing risk management measures. While lacking a spillway, the dam features one outlet gate for water release. With a risk assessment indicating high risk, Helm Lake No 2 Dam serves as a critical water resource for the surrounding area.
As part of the Fort Worth District, the dam is a vital component of the local infrastructure. While its hazard potential and risk assessment pose challenges, the dam's role in providing recreation opportunities and water storage cannot be understated. With its picturesque location and impressive design, Helm Lake No 2 Dam is a captivating destination for those interested in water resources and climate resilience.
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 Helm Lake No 2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S Sulphur Rv Nr Cooper | 3 cfs | → |
| S Sulphur At Commerce | 0 cfs | → |
| Middle Sulphur Rv At Commerce | 4 cfs | → |
| N Sulphur Rv Nr Cooper | 7 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 8 cfs | → |
| White Oak Ck Nr Talco | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Helm Lake No 2 Dam.
Boat launches
- Honey Creek Interpretive Trail Hopkins County
- 7th Street Delta County
- Fm 2946 Rains County
- County Road 1973 Wood County
- Wood County
- Private Road 5183 Wood County
Campgrounds
- Lake Winnsboro North Park
- Lake Quitman Park
- Winnsboro City Rv Park
- Overlook Park - Lake Cypress Springs
- Walleye Park - Lake Cypress Springs
- Twin Oaks Park - Lake Cypress Springs
Fishing spots
Track Helm Lake No 2 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 Helm Lake No 2 Dam
Where does the data for Helm Lake No 2 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 Helm Lake No 2 Dam.