Apache Lake Dam dam
Apache Lake Dam
Apache Lake Dam, located in Travis County, Texas, is a private earth dam built in 1969 for recreational purposes along the TR-Colorado River. With a height of 38 feet and a length of 255 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 82 acre-feet, making it a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Apache Lake Dam has undergone regular inspections, with its condition assessed as fair in 2014. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and one outlet gate, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1 cubic foot per second. Despite its moderate hazard potential, the dam has not experienced any major incidents, making it a safe and reliable structure for recreational activities.
Overall, Apache Lake Dam stands as a testament to responsible dam construction and maintenance, providing both locals and visitors with a picturesque setting for outdoor enjoyment. With its rich history dating back over five decades, the dam continues to play a vital role in water management and conservation efforts in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike to witness its engineering marvels.
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 Apache Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Barton Ck At Sh 71 Nr Oak Hill | 4 cfs | → |
| Bull Ck At Loop 360 Nr Austin | 7 cfs | → |
| Barton Ck At Lost Ck Blvd Nr Austin | 9 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Lake Ck Pkwy Nr Austin | 1 cfs | → |
| Williamson Ck At Oak Hill | · | → |
| Shoal Ck At Silverway Dr | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Apache Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Low Water Crossing Road, Austin
- Mansfield Park Drive, Austin
- South Quinlan Park Road 1501, Austin
- Bullick Hollow Road 13601, Austin
- Lime Creek Road 9684-9766, Leander
- Greenshores Drive 6921, Travis County
Campgrounds
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
- Sandy Creek - Lake Travis
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Pace Bend Park - Lake Travis
- Camp Mabry Military
Track Apache 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 Apache Lake Dam
Where does the data for Apache 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 Apache Lake Dam.