Dickinson Lake Dam dam
Dickinson Lake Dam
Dickinson Lake Dam, located in Wichita, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1957 for the primary purpose of recreation. Spanning 800 feet in length and standing at a height of 13 feet, it holds a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Wildhorse Creek and is designed with a buttress core type. Despite its age, the dam has not been rated for its condition and poses a high risk level, indicating the need for further assessment and potential risk management measures.
The dam lacks a spillway and has no locks associated with it, suggesting limited control over water discharge. With a normal storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a total surface area of 13 acres, Dickinson Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource for the area. While it is primarily used for recreation, it also supports tailing activities and water supply needs. Although the dam has not been regulated or inspected by state agencies, it does have state permitting and inspection processes in place, ensuring some level of oversight and maintenance.
In the event of an emergency, the dam's readiness and response protocols are unclear, as no emergency action plan (EAP) has been prepared or updated. The hazard potential of the dam is not available, emphasizing the importance of establishing proper risk management measures. With its strategic location and critical role in water management, Dickinson Lake Dam remains a key structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and assess for potential environmental impacts and safety concerns.
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 Dickinson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rv Nr Burkburnett | 79 cfs | → |
| Wichita Rv At Wichita Falls | 46 cfs | → |
| Deep Red Creek Near Randlett | 806 cfs | → |
| Holliday Ck At Wichita Falls | 9 cfs | → |
| Beaver Ck Nr Electra | 1 cfs | → |
| Wichita Rv Nr Charlie | 1,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dickinson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Track Dickinson 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 Dickinson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dickinson 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 Dickinson Lake Dam.