Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 Dam dam
Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 Dam
Cow Bayou WS SCS Site 23 Dam, located in McLennan, Texas, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1964. Standing at 30 feet tall and spanning 1200 feet in length, this earth dam plays a significant role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. With a storage capacity of 580 acre-feet and a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam also serves secondary purposes such as fire protection, stock, or small fish pond, irrigation, and more.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Cow Bayou WS SCS Site 23 Dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its high hazard potential, with a risk assessment rating of 2, the dam's condition remains unrated, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures. While the dam lacks a spillway, it is equipped with one outlet gate to control water flow, serving as a critical component in the local water resource infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cow Bayou WS SCS Site 23 Dam offers a fascinating case study in flood risk reduction and dam management. Its location along the TR-SOUTH FOR COW BAYOU stream, in the Fort Worth District, showcases the intersection of engineering, environmental conservation, and community resilience. As efforts to address climate change intensify, understanding the role of structures like this dam becomes increasingly vital in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 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 | 15 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 292 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Belton | 386 cfs | → |
| Nolan Ck At S Penelope | 102 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Valley Mills | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 Dam.
Boat launches
- Koehne Park Drive, Waco
- Classic Drive 489-495, Waco
- Leona Park Rd, Texas
- White Flint Park Road 11298, Moody
- Tennant Creek Boat Ramp
- Moffat Road, Temple
Campgrounds
- Owl Creek - Belton Lake
- Airport Park
- Live Oak Ridge Park - Belton Lake
- Westcliff - Belton Lake
- Belton Lake Military - Fort Hood
- Falls On The Brazos Park
Fishing spots
Track Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 Dam
Where does the data for Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Site 23 Dam.