Alcoa Lake Dam dam
Alcoa Lake Dam
Alcoa Lake Dam, located in Milam County, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1952. Standing at a height of 54 feet, with a hydraulic height of 53 feet and a structural height of 58 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of Sandy Creek. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 19,600 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 15,650 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 913 acres.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Alcoa Lake Dam has undergone structural modifications in 2012 to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam features various outlet gates, including slide gates and tainter gates, to control water release. With a maximum discharge capacity of 34,500 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a vital component in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. Despite not having a hazard potential rating or condition assessment, the dam remains a key infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to study and monitor.
As a significant landmark in the Galveston District, Alcoa Lake Dam stands as a testament to the engineering expertise of its designers, Bullock, Bennett, & Associates, and EBASCO Services Inc. The dam's role in water management and its impact on the surrounding ecosystem make it a fascinating subject for enthusiasts interested in understanding the intersection of water resources and climate 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 Alcoa Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rv Nr Rockdale | 951 cfs | → |
| San Gabriel Rv At Laneport | 1,640 cfs | → |
| E Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 316 cfs | → |
| Middle Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 11 cfs | → |
| Little Rv At Cameron | 3,780 cfs | → |
| Big Elm Ck At Sh 77 Nr Cameron | 932 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alcoa Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Alcoa 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 Alcoa Lake Dam
Where does the data for Alcoa 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 Alcoa Lake Dam.