Martin Lake Dam dam
Martin Lake Dam
Martin Lake Dam, located in Tatum, Texas, is a privately owned structure on the Martin Creek, completed in 1974 by the design firm Forrest and Cotton. This earth dam stands at a height of 61 feet and has a length of 6875 feet, with a storage capacity of 182,300 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 75,116 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including recreation and water resource management, with a spillway width of 1184 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 65,300 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Martin Lake Dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, with a low hazard potential. In the event of an emergency, the dam has controlled and uncontrolled outlet gates to manage water flow. The surrounding area offers a surface area of 5,440 acres for recreational activities, making it a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to visit.
With its strategic location and vital role in managing water resources in the region, Martin Lake Dam stands as a testament to responsible infrastructure design and maintenance. Its contribution to the local community's water supply, recreational opportunities, and environmental protection highlights the importance of sustainable dam management in the face of changing climate patterns. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Martin Lake Dam serves as a fascinating example of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship in action.
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 Martin Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Beckville | 579 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Bl Longview | 356 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Carthage | 7,250 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Abv Longview | 298 cfs | → |
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 8 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater | 267 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Martin Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tx 149 Easton
- Boat Launch Road Harrison County
- Estes Parkway 5001, Lakeport
- County Road 317a Panola County
- South Tyler Street 901, Gladewater
Campgrounds
- Martin Creek Lake State Park
- Shelter Camping Area
- Broken Bowl Camping Area
- Bee Tree Camping Loop
- Rosie Jones Park - Lake Murvaul
- Tinkle Park - Lake Murvaul
Fishing spots
Track Martin 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 Martin Lake Dam
Where does the data for Martin 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 Martin Lake Dam.