West Lake Dam dam
West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam, located in Kaufman, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1973 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 26 feet and with a length of 1850 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 504 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3828 cubic feet per second. The dam overlooks the Jones Creek and serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various water activities.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the West Lake Dam has state jurisdiction and is subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and two uncontrolled outlet gates, adding to the recreational appeal of the area. Despite being rated as "Moderate (3)" in terms of risk assessment, the dam's hazard potential and condition assessment remain unavailable, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
With its serene location and diverse recreational opportunities, West Lake Dam serves as a valuable water resource for the local community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the dam's design and functionality, as well as the efforts undertaken by regulatory agencies to oversee its operation and maintenance. As part of the Fort Worth District, the dam stands as a testament to the balance between human recreation and environmental stewardship in managing water resources in 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
| Kings Ck At Sh 34 Nr Kaufman | 8 cfs | → |
| E Fk Trinity Rv Nr Crandall | 171 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Rosser | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At W Cedar Creek Pkwy Nr Dosser | 1,830 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 111 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Cedar Creek Parkway 2101, Mabank
- Park Road Henderson County
- Duck Cove Public Boat Ramp
- Fm 751 11438, Hunt County
- Private Road 7398 469, Wills Point
Campgrounds
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.