Rice Lake Dam dam
Rice Lake Dam
Rice Lake Dam, located in Navarro County, Texas, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and recreation. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and stretches 950 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 544 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 197 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Rice Branch and is designed with an uncontrolled spillway and three outlet gates.
Despite its functional versatility, Rice Lake Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, with a moderate risk level. The last inspection in 2015 revealed the need for maintenance and potential safety concerns. The dam is owned privately and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Rice Lake Dam an intriguing site to study due to its historical significance, structural design, and current challenges in maintaining its integrity. With its proximity to the community and potential impact on local ecosystems, the dam presents a complex case for balancing water management, public safety, and environmental conservation. Further research and monitoring of Rice Lake Dam could provide valuable insights into sustainable dam management practices and resilience in the face of changing climate 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 Rice Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chambers Ck Nr Rice | 10 cfs | → |
| Waxahachie Ck Nr Bardwell | 2 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At W Cedar Creek Pkwy Nr Dosser | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Rosser | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Chambers Ck At Fm 55 Nr Avalon | 6 cfs | → |
| Waxahachie Ck At Waxahachie | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rice Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Road, Ennis
- Beach Road Ennis
- Ellis County
- High View Marina Road, Ennis
- Old Park Road Ellis County
- East Cedar Creek Parkway 2101, Mabank
Campgrounds
- Highview - Bardwell Lake
- Mott - Bardwell Lake
- Waxahachie - Bardwell Lake
- Oak Park - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Wolf Creek - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Pecan Point - Navarro Mills Reservoir
Track Rice 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 Rice Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rice 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 Rice Lake Dam.