West Lake Dam dam
West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam, located in Hillister, Texas, serves primarily for irrigation purposes but also plays a role in recreation and water supply. Built in 1949, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans a length of 530 feet. It has a storage capacity of 360 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3185 cubic feet per second.
Although the dam has undergone modifications in 1997, it currently holds a moderate risk level with no available hazard potential assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and four outlet gates. Despite being privately owned, the structure falls under state permitting and inspection regulations. While the condition of the dam is not rated, an Emergency Action Plan was last reviewed in 2011.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find West Lake Dam intriguing due to its historical significance, engineering characteristics, and the role it plays in the local water management system. The dam's location on the TR-Magnus Branch river, in the Fort Worth District, further adds to its significance within the region. Overall, West Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in managing water resources for various purposes in the state of Texas.
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 West Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neches Rv Nr Town Bluff | 4,390 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Rockland | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Village Ck Nr Kountze | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Menard Ck Nr Rye | 59 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv At Evadale | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Romayor | 5,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tyler County
- Jasper County
- Fm 418 Boat Ramp
- Baby Galvez Landing
- Sandy Creek Public Boat Ramp
- Us 96 Hardin County
Campgrounds
- Lake Tejas City Park
- Indian Village Campground
- Alabama - Coushatta Lake Tombigbee
- B.A. Steinhagen Lake Campground
- Campers Cove - Town Bluff Reservoir
- Magnolia Ridge - Town Bluff Reservoir
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Big Sandy Creek
- Confluence With Big Sandy Creek To Confluence With The Neches River
- Town Bluff Dam To Hwy 96 Bridge
- Preserve Boundary Of The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Village Creek
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Trinity River
- Us Highway 69 To Ba Steinhagen Reservoir
Track West 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 West Lake Dam
Where does the data for West 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 West Lake Dam.