Black Ranch Lake Levee dam
Black Ranch Lake Levee
Black Ranch Lake Levee, located in Brazoria, Texas, is a private earth dam constructed in 1968 for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a storage capacity of 912 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 456 acre-feet. The dam serves as a vital resource for water management in the area, helping to regulate water flow and provide irrigation to surrounding agricultural lands.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Black Ranch Lake Levee is subject to state regulations for inspection, permitting, and enforcement. Despite being rated as having a high risk potential, the dam's condition has not been officially assessed. The absence of a spillway and limited information on the structure's hazard potential underscore the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam.
With no associated structures and a single outlet gate, the Black Ranch Lake Levee plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the preservation and proper maintenance of such structures are essential for sustainable water use and environmental resilience. The dam's location off the Brazos River highlights its importance in supporting local agriculture and protecting against potential flooding events, making it a key asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
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 Black Ranch Lake Levee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Nr Rosharon | 7,390 cfs | → |
| Chocolate Bayou Nr Alvin | 18 cfs | → |
| San Bernard Rv Nr Boling | 105 cfs | → |
| Dry Ck Nr Rosenberg | 75 cfs | → |
| Big Ck Nr Needville | 2 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Richmond | 8,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Ranch Lake Levee.
Track Black Ranch Lake Levee 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 Black Ranch Lake Levee
Where does the data for Black Ranch Lake Levee 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 Black Ranch Lake Levee.