Sims Lake Dam dam
Sims Lake Dam
Sims Lake Dam, located in Limestone, Texas, is a private earth dam completed in 1966 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 14 feet and stretching 600 feet in length, this dam creates a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 50 acre-feet. Despite its recreational focus, the dam holds a high risk assessment rating of 2, indicating potential hazards that require close monitoring and management.
Managed by private owners, Sims Lake Dam overlooks TR-BIG CREEK and falls under the jurisdiction of the Fort Worth District. While it lacks certain regulatory oversight, the dam is subject to state permitting and inspection requirements. The structure boasts a buttress core type and has no spillway, with one outlet gate for water release. The dam's risk assessment highlights the need for proactive risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and downstream areas.
In the absence of a condition rating, Sims Lake Dam's current state remains unrated. Emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) are not readily available, raising concerns about the response protocols in case of an unforeseen event. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dam infrastructure like Sims Lake Dam is essential in safeguarding our environment and communities from potential risks associated with aging structures and changing weather patterns.
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 Sims Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Ck Nr Freestone | 3 cfs | → |
| Navasota Rv Abv Groesbeck | 0 cfs | → |
| Navasota Rv Nr Easterly | 56 cfs | → |
| Tehuacana Ck Nr Streetman | 0 cfs | → |
| Upper Keechi Ck Nr Oakwood | 26 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Oakwood | 2,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sims Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Public Use Area 3 - Groesbeck
- Public Use Area 2 - Groesbeck
- Public Use Area 5 - Thornton
- Fort Parker State Park
- Lake Mexia Rec Area
- Fairfield Lake State Park
Track Sims 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 Sims Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sims 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 Sims Lake Dam.