Brown Ranch Dam dam
Brown Ranch Dam
Brown Ranch Dam, located in Hays, Texas, along the TR-ONION CREEK, was completed in 1962 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This privately owned structure stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 450 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 370 acre-feet. Despite being earth-filled, with a buttress core type, the dam lacks a spillway, which may pose a risk of high hazard potential in case of overflow.
Although not regulated or inspected by the state, Brown Ranch Dam is permitted for operation and maintenance. The dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and recreation. However, the lack of an emergency action plan or condition assessment raises concerns about the facility's readiness to handle potential risks. With a high risk rating of 2, stakeholders may need to consider implementing risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource demands.
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 Brown Ranch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Onion Ck Nr Driftwood | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear Ck Bl Fm 1826 Nr Driftwood | 2 cfs | → |
| Bear Ck At Spillar Ranch Rd Nr Manchaca | 3 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At Halifax Rch Nr Kyle | 4 cfs | → |
| Slaughter Ck At Fm 1826 Nr Austin | · | → |
| Blanco Rv At Wimberley | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brown Ranch Dam.
Boat launches
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- South Quinlan Park Road 1501, Austin
- Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail, Austin
- Redbud Trail, Austin
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- Festival Beach Road, Austin
Campgrounds
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Flat Creek Crossing Ranch
- Canyon Lake Military - Randolph Afb
- North Park - Canyon Lake
Fishing spots
Track Brown Ranch 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 Brown Ranch Dam
Where does the data for Brown Ranch 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 Brown Ranch Dam.