New Espada Lake Dam dam
New Espada Lake Dam
New Espada Lake Dam, located in Bexar, Texas, is a private-owned structure built in 1967 for irrigation purposes along the San Antonio River. Standing at a height of 12 feet and stretching 420 feet in length, this earth dam is supported by a buttress core and has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. Despite its relatively small size, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), New Espada Lake Dam has been deemed to have a high risk level due to unknown hazard potential and a lack of a condition assessment. While it does not feature a spillway, the dam is equipped with one outlet gate for water release. The structure has not undergone recent inspections or assessments, leaving its overall condition and safety somewhat uncertain. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find interest in further exploring the operational and risk management measures associated with this unique dam.
With its historical significance and vital role in providing irrigation water to the surrounding area, New Espada Lake Dam serves as a notable landmark in the Galveston District of Texas. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the condition and safety of such structures becomes increasingly important. As such, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the continued functionality and safety of New Espada Lake Dam for years to come.
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 New Espada Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Rv At Loop 410 At San Antonio | 21 cfs | → |
| Salado Ck At Loop 13 At San Antonio | 7 cfs | → |
| San Antonio Rv At Mitchell St | 20 cfs | → |
| San Antonio Rv At San Antonio | 31 cfs | → |
| San Pedro Ck At Furnish St | 7 cfs | → |
| Medina Rv At San Antonio | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Espada Lake Dam.
Track New Espada 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 New Espada Lake Dam
Where does the data for New Espada 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 New Espada Lake Dam.