Medina Lake Dam dam
Medina Lake Dam
Medina Lake Dam, located in Medina, Texas, was completed in 1913 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 165 feet with a length of 1550 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 327,250 acre-feet. The dam is a gravity type structure with a buttress core foundation, designed by Bartlett and Ranney, URS. The Medina River is the primary water source for the dam, with a drainage area of 634 square miles.
The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. In 2012, the dam underwent structural modifications to maintain its safety standards. The spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 880 feet, and there are six outlet gates, including one uncontrolled and five vertical lift gates. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a potential for hazards that are being managed through appropriate measures.
Medina Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water management and agricultural irrigation in the region. With its strategic location in the Medina River basin, the dam helps regulate water flow and storage, benefiting the surrounding communities. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the engineering marvel of this gravity dam and its contributions to sustainable water usage in Texas.
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 Medina Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Verde Ck At Sh 173 Nr Bandera | · | → |
| San Geronimo Ck Nr Helotes | 1 cfs | → |
| Helotes Ck At Helotes | · | → |
| Medina Rv At Bandera | 13 cfs | → |
| Hondo Ck At Sh 173 Nr Hondo | · | → |
| Hondo Ck Nr Tarpley | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Medina Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Castroville Regional Park
- Wilderness Camp Area
- Butterfly Springs Camp Area
- Hermit's Shack Camp Area
- Lackland Afb Military
Fishing spots
Track Medina 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 Medina Lake Dam
Where does the data for Medina 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 Medina Lake Dam.