Oak Lake Dam dam
Oak Lake Dam
Oak Lake Dam, located in McLennan, Texas, was completed in 1900 and serves as a key recreational site in the area. Standing at a height of 13 feet, the earth dam overlooks Tiger Creek and provides a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam's condition has not been rated, and its hazard potential is considered to be not available.
The dam, owned privately, does not fall under state jurisdiction or regulation, with permitting and inspection being handled at the state level. With a spillway type listed as "None," the structure features a simple design with one outlet gate. The primary purpose of Oak Lake Dam is recreation, offering visitors a serene environment to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty.
Although the last inspection of the dam dates back to 1972, the risk assessment for Oak Lake Dam indicates a high risk level of 2. With no emergency action plan or inundation maps prepared, there is room for improvement in the risk management measures for this important water resource. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Oak Lake Dam presents a valuable opportunity for further exploration and monitoring in the context of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Oak Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 292 cfs | → |
| Hog Ck Nr Crawford | 15 cfs | → |
| Middle Bosque Rv Nr Mcgregor | 54 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Aquilla | 90 cfs | → |
| Ash Ck At Hwy 171 Nr Malone | 434 cfs | → |
| Aquilla Ck Abv Aquilla | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oak Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pep Club Road 299, Hallsburg
- Sommerfeld Drive 1823, Waco
- Pavelka Drive Hallsburg
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 908-998, Waco
- North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard Waco
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 3801, Waco
Campgrounds
- Airport Park
- Falls On The Brazos Park
- Lake Mexia Rec Area
- Fort Parker State Park
- Liberty Hill - Navarro Mills Reservoir
Fishing spots
Track Oak 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 Oak Lake Dam
Where does the data for Oak 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 Oak Lake Dam.