Lake Heron Dam dam
Lake Heron Dam
Lake Heron Dam, located in Fayette County, Texas, was completed in 1971 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans a length of 320 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 48 acre-feet and a surface area of 6.5 acres. The dam, constructed as an earth structure with buttress core types, is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition.
Situated on TR-Miller Creek, the dam's spillway, with 2 uncontrolled gates, has a width of 31 feet to manage a maximum discharge of 91 cubic feet per second. The dam poses a moderate risk, as assessed on a scale of 1 to 5, with no available hazard potential classification. Despite its private ownership, the dam serves as a vital recreational resource in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty and functionality of this engineering marvel. Overall, Lake Heron Dam is a picturesque and significant landmark in the Texas landscape, offering both leisure and educational opportunities for visitors.
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 Lake Heron Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rv Abv La Grange | 320 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv At Smithville | 579 cfs | → |
| Colorado Rv At Bastrop | 537 cfs | → |
| Middle Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 43 cfs | → |
| Peach Creek At Hwy 90 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| E Yegua Ck Nr Dime Box | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Heron Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairie Valley Road 1517, West Point
- West Highway 71 Business 737-971, La Grange
- Park Prairie Road 1298, Fayetteville
- Highway 159 4705, Fayetteville
- Riverside Drive 375, Bastrop
Campgrounds
- Bluff Creek Ranch
- Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park
- Buescher State Park
- Park Prarie - Lake Fayette
- Oak Thicket Park - Fayette Lake
- Town Square - Fayetteville
Fishing spots
Track Lake Heron 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 Lake Heron Dam
Where does the data for Lake Heron 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 Lake Heron Dam.