Edwards Lake No 5 Dam dam
Edwards Lake No 5 Dam
Edwards Lake No 5 Dam, located in Clay County, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, and serving as a small fish pond. Completed in 1956, this dam has a height of 19 feet and a length of 54 feet, with a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-East Fork Little Wichita River and is under the jurisdiction of the state with permitting and inspection requirements in place.
Despite its age, Edwards Lake No 5 Dam has not been rated for its condition and is considered to have a high risk potential. This raises concerns for the surrounding area in the event of an emergency or failure. The dam does not have a spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate, with no associated structures or locks. With a lack of updated emergency action plans and risk assessment measures, there is a need for increased monitoring and management to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Edwards Lake No 5 Dam presents an intriguing case study for the maintenance and regulation of aging infrastructure. The dam's historical significance as a vital water source for fire protection and stock adds to its value, but also highlights the importance of proactive risk management and assessment. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the resilience and sustainability of structures like Edwards Lake No 5 Dam will be crucial in ensuring the safety and security of communities and ecosystems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Edwards Lake No 5 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E Fk Little Wichita Rv Nr Henrietta | · | → |
| Beaver Ck Nr Ringgold | 145 cfs | → |
| Red Rv Nr Terral | 266 cfs | → |
| Little Wichita Rv Abv Henrietta | 0 cfs | → |
| Belknap Ck Nr Ringgold | 112 cfs | → |
| Wichita Rv Nr Charlie | 1,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Edwards Lake No 5 Dam.
Boat launches
- Fm 2606 Clay County
- Pawnee Trail 498, Clay County
- Boat Ramp Road Clay County
- Archer County
- Lake Wichita Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Hapgood Rv Park
- Lake Arrowhead State Park
- Pelham City Park
- Weldon Rob Memorial Park - Lake Nocona
- Boone Park - Lake Nocona
- Joe Benton Park - Lake Nocona
Track Edwards Lake No 5 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 Edwards Lake No 5 Dam
Where does the data for Edwards Lake No 5 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 Edwards Lake No 5 Dam.