El Negro Ranch Lake Dam dam
El Negro Ranch Lake Dam
The El Negro Ranch Lake Dam in Wilson County, Texas, was completed in 1961 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and recreational activities. This private earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 950 feet, creating a reservoir with a capacity of 392 acre-feet. Located on TR-Shockley Creek, the dam does not have a spillway and is classified as a high-risk structure with a hazard potential rating of 2.
Despite being a privately owned structure, the El Negro Ranch Lake Dam is regulated by the state of Texas with permitting and inspection requirements. The dam is primarily designed for fire protection and irrigation purposes, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. With no federal agency involvement in its ownership or funding, the dam remains under the jurisdiction of the state and is subject to state regulatory oversight.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the El Negro Ranch Lake Dam represents a significant infrastructure for water management in the region. With its strategic location on Shockley Creek and its important role in serving the community's water needs, this dam plays a crucial role in sustaining agricultural activities, wildlife habitats, and recreational opportunities in the area. The dam's risk assessment and management measures are essential considerations for ensuring the safety and reliability of this vital water resource.
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 El Negro Ranch Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cibolo Ck Nr Falls City | 38 cfs | → |
| Cibolo Ck At Sutherland Springs | 36 cfs | → |
| Ecleto Ck Nr Runge | 8 cfs | → |
| Sandies Ck Nr Westhoff | 2 cfs | → |
| San Antonio Rv Nr Falls City | 514 cfs | → |
| San Antonio Rv At Sh 72 Nr Runge | 308 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near El Negro Ranch Lake Dam.
Fishing spots
Track El Negro Ranch 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 El Negro Ranch Lake Dam
Where does the data for El Negro Ranch 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 El Negro Ranch Lake Dam.