John M Brinegar Dam dam
John M Brinegar Dam
John M Brinegar Dam, also known as Brinegar Lake, is a private earth dam located in McLennan County, Texas. Completed in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at a height of 19 feet and spans 600 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 153 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-SOUTH FORK COW BAYOU, this dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and is not regulated by the state. Despite its high hazard potential and lack of a spillway, the dam's condition remains unrated, making it a subject of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
While the dam lacks certain safety features like a spillway, it currently poses a high risk due to its design and potential for failure. The absence of regular inspections and maintenance further adds to the risk associated with this structure. With a single outlet gate and no inundation maps or emergency action plan in place, there is a need for increased monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in the event of a dam failure.
For those interested in water resource management and climate change impacts on infrastructure, the John M Brinegar Dam presents a unique case study. Despite its age and lack of state regulation, this privately owned dam showcases the importance of proactive risk assessment and management for earth dams in high hazard potential areas. As discussions around dam safety and climate resilience continue to evolve, the condition and management of structures like the John M Brinegar Dam serve as important considerations for sustainable water resource management practices.
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 John M Brinegar Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Bosque Rv Nr Mcgregor | 45 cfs | → |
| Hog Ck Nr Crawford | 14 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Belton | 386 cfs | → |
| Nolan Ck At S Penelope | 102 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 167 cfs | → |
| Lampasas Rv Nr Belton | 954 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near John M Brinegar Dam.
Boat launches
- Leona Park Rd, Texas
- White Flint Park Road 11298, Moody
- Moffat Road, Temple
- Owl Creek Park Road 6800, Gatesville
- Cedar Ridge Park, Temple
- Rogers Park Road 2256-2400, Belton
Campgrounds
- Owl Creek - Belton Lake
- Live Oak Ridge Park - Belton Lake
- Belton Lake Military - Fort Hood
- Westcliff - Belton Lake
- Airport Park
- Falls On The Brazos Park
Fishing spots
Track John M Brinegar 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 John M Brinegar Dam
Where does the data for John M Brinegar 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 John M Brinegar Dam.