Masterson Lake Dam dam
Masterson Lake Dam
Masterson Lake Dam, located in Hillister, Texas, is a private earth dam completed in 1940 for the primary purpose of water supply. The dam stands at a height of 13 feet with a structural height of 15 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. Surrounded by the serene Spurlock Branch, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources to the region.
Despite its age, Masterson Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, and its hazard potential is currently labeled as "Not Available." However, the risk assessment categorizes the dam as having a high risk level of 2. The dam does not feature a spillway, but has one outlet gate to manage water flow. With no associated structures and a lack of inspection data, the dam's current state and maintenance requirements remain uncertain.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and functional importance of Masterson Lake Dam in sustaining water supply in Tyler County, Texas. As a private dam with limited regulatory oversight, there is a need for further assessment and potential risk management measures to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of this vital water resource infrastructure.
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 Masterson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neches Rv Nr Town Bluff | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Village Ck Nr Kountze | 688 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Rockland | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Menard Ck Nr Rye | 151 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv At Evadale | 3,820 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Romayor | 4,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Masterson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- B.A. Steinhagen Lake Campground
- Campers Cove - Town Bluff Reservoir
- Lake Tejas City Park
- Magnolia Ridge - Town Bluff Reservoir
- Indian Village Campground
- Martin Dies State Park
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
- Us Highway 69 To Ba Steinhagen Reservoir
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Trinity River
Track Masterson 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 Masterson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Masterson 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 Masterson Lake Dam.