Foster Lake Dam dam
Foster Lake Dam
Foster Lake Dam, located in Smithville, Texas, serves as a crucial water supply structure with a capacity of 1200 acre-feet. This earth dam, completed in 1964, stands at a height of 35 feet and spans 610 feet in length. The dam's primary purpose is to provide water for the surrounding area, making it an essential resource for both residents and wildlife in the region.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Foster Lake Dam is subject to state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite not having a spillway, the dam's hazard potential is deemed "Not Available" with a high risk assessment rating of 2. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, its risk management measures and emergency action plan status are also unspecified, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of this critical water infrastructure.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Foster Lake Dam's design and operational details intriguing, from its buttress core type to the presence of one outlet gate. With the dam situated on the TR-Piney Creek, within the Galveston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, its role in water supply management and potential impact on the local ecosystem make it a significant subject of interest for those passionate about sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Foster Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rv At Smithville | 579 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv At Bastrop | 537 cfs | → |
| Peach Creek At Hwy 90 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Plum Ck At Lockhart | 26 cfs | → |
| Sandy Fork Ck At Hwy 97 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Plum Ck Nr Luling | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foster Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverside Drive 375, Bastrop
- Carter Street 1900, Bastrop
- Farm To Market 969 1115, Bastrop
- Hyatt Lost Pines Road 575, Cedar Creek
- Prairie Valley Road 1517, West Point
Campgrounds
- Bastrop State Park
- Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park
- Buescher State Park
- South Shore Park - Lake Bastrop
- North Shore Park - Lake Bastrop
- Lockhart State Park
Fishing spots
Track Foster 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 Foster Lake Dam
Where does the data for Foster 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 Foster Lake Dam.