Donnell Lake Dam dam
Donnell Lake Dam
Donnell Lake Dam, located in La Salle, Texas, was completed in 1964 and serves as a crucial water supply structure for the region. The dam is primarily used for water supply purposes and stands at a height of 13 feet with a length of 925 feet. Its earth core and buttress structure make it a sturdy and reliable source of water storage, with a maximum capacity of 208 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 42 acre-feet.
Despite its importance for water supply, Donnell Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment and is considered to have a high risk potential. The dam lacks a spillway and has no associated locks, making it crucial for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and functionality. With its location on TR-SALEM CREEK and under the jurisdiction of the Galveston District, the dam poses a potential hazard that requires careful monitoring and risk management measures to protect the surrounding area from flooding and other water-related risks.
Overall, Donnell Lake Dam stands as a vital water resource infrastructure in Texas, providing essential water supply for the region. However, its high-risk potential underscores the need for ongoing monitoring, inspections, and maintenance to ensure its continued safe operation. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining and safeguarding dams like Donnell Lake Dam becomes increasingly critical for the resilience and sustainability of water systems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Donnell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nueces Rv At Cotulla | · | → |
| Frio Rv Nr Derby | · | → |
| Nueces Rv Nr Tilden | · | → |
| Frio Rv At Tilden | 0 cfs | → |
| San Miguel Ck Nr Tilden | 0 cfs | → |
| San Casimiro Ck Nr Freer | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donnell Lake Dam.
Track Donnell 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 Donnell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Donnell 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 Donnell Lake Dam.