Md Heatly Dam dam
Md Heatly Dam
Md Heatly Dam, located in Hays, Texas, along the Pecan Springs river, was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of irrigation. Owned privately and designed by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet with a length of 500 feet. With a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet, the dam also serves recreational purposes, covering a surface area of 10 acres.
Despite being a private structure, Md Heatly Dam is regulated by the state of Texas with permitting and inspection requirements in place. With a hazard potential rating of "Not Available" and a risk assessment of "High (2)", the dam poses potential risks that need to be managed effectively. The lack of spillway and limited discharge capacity highlight the importance of regular inspections and adherence to safety guidelines to prevent any potential emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Md Heatly Dam serves as a notable structure in Texas, showcasing the intersection of human engineering with natural water systems. Its role in providing irrigation water and recreational opportunities underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of increasing climate variability. As efforts to address climate change intensify, understanding and monitoring dams like Md Heatly becomes crucial for ensuring the long-term resilience of water resources in the region.
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 Md Heatly Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
| Blanco Rv At San Marcos | 1 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At San Marcos | 84 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv Nr Martindale | 149 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At Halifax Rch Nr Kyle | 7 cfs | → |
| Plum Ck At Lockhart | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Md Heatly Dam.
Boat launches
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- State Park Road 17065-17099, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Stairtown Road 515, Luling
Campgrounds
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Lockhart State Park
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Camp Huaco Springs
- North Park - Canyon Lake
- Canyon Lake Military - Randolph Afb
Fishing spots
Track Md Heatly 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 Md Heatly Dam
Where does the data for Md Heatly 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 Md Heatly Dam.