Peterson Dam dam
Peterson Dam
Peterson Dam, located in Eastland, Texas, along Ellison Spring Branch, was completed in 1965 with a primary purpose of irrigation. This private earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a length of 700 feet, providing storage for up to 200 acre-feet of water. While the dam does not have a spillway, it does have one outlet gate for water release.
Despite being rated as "Not Available" in terms of hazard potential and "Not Rated" in condition assessment, Peterson Dam has a high risk level assigned to it. The dam has not been inspected since August 1969, raising concerns about its current condition and safety. With no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, the dam lacks preparedness for any potential emergencies or disasters.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Peterson Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of regular inspections and maintenance of infrastructure to ensure public safety and water security. The risk level associated with the dam highlights the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential hazards and protect surrounding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of dam failure.
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 Peterson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Leon Rv Nr De Leon | 1 cfs | → |
| Sabana Rv Nr De Leon | 1 cfs | → |
| Copperas Ck At Fm 2247 Nr Comanche | 3 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Hasse | 7 cfs | → |
| Pecan Bayou Nr Cross Cut | 436 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Abv Breckenridge | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peterson Dam.
Boat launches
- Comanche County
- Port Promontory Drive Comanche County
- Farm-To-Market Road 2861 Comanche County
- R 6 Comanche County
Campgrounds
- Dam - Leon Reservoir
- De Leon Community Park
- Ringling Lake City Park
- Weiser Community Park
- Promontory - Proctor Lake
- Sowell Creek - Proctor Lake
Fishing spots
Track Peterson 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 Peterson Dam
Where does the data for Peterson 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 Peterson Dam.