Cooper Lake Dam dam
Cooper Lake Dam
Cooper Lake Dam, located in Caldwell, Texas, was completed in 1963 and serves as a vital recreational hub in the area. The dam, standing at a height of 22 feet and stretching 650 feet in length, creates a storage capacity of 220 acre-feet of water from the TR-Morrison Creek. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam is also designed for flood control, although it does not have a spillway.
With a high hazard potential rating, Cooper Lake Dam is closely monitored and inspected by the state of Texas to ensure its safety and stability. The dam is primarily owned and regulated by a private entity, with no federal oversight. Although the dam is not currently rated for its condition, it is considered to be in good standing and poses no immediate risk to the surrounding area. As a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, the dam offers a peaceful retreat for visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake and surrounding landscape.
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 Cooper Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Marcos Rv Nr Martindale | 160 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At San Marcos | 1 cfs | → |
| Plum Ck At Lockhart | 26 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At San Marcos | 91 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
| Blanco Rv At Halifax Rch Nr Kyle | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooper Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- State Park Road 17065-17099, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Stairtown Road 515, Luling
Campgrounds
- Lockhart State Park
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Camp Huaco Springs
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Palmetto State Park
- Group Camping
Fishing spots
Track Cooper 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 Cooper Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cooper 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 Cooper Lake Dam.