Canton Old City Lake Dam dam
Canton Old City Lake Dam
Located in Van Zandt County, Texas, the Canton Old City Lake Dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and resilience. Initially completed in 1930, this earth dam was rebuilt following a breach in 1982, showcasing a commitment to maintaining water resources for both recreational and practical purposes. With a height of 18.3 feet and a length of 695 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing the flow of the TR-DRY CREEK and providing essential water storage for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and regulated at the state level, the Canton Old City Lake Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its fair condition assessment in 2017, the dam presents a moderate risk level, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures. With a storage capacity of 220 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 144 acre-feet, the dam serves as a vital resource for the community while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the history and significance of the Canton Old City Lake Dam, they can appreciate the efforts that have gone into its design, construction, and maintenance over the years. With a spillway width of 295 feet and uncontrolled outlets, this dam exemplifies the balance between human intervention and nature's forces. By understanding the role of structures like the Canton Old City Lake Dam in water management and environmental conservation, enthusiasts can gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of water resources and climate dynamics.
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 Canton Old City Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 111 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Kings Ck At Sh 34 Nr Kaufman | 8 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 16 cfs | → |
| S Fk Sabine Rv Nr Quinlan | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Canton Old City Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Road Henderson County
- Private Road 7398 469, Wills Point
- Rains County
- Duck Cove Public Boat Ramp
- Fm 751 11438, Hunt County
Campgrounds
- Purtis Creek State Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Lake Tawakoni State Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Wind Point Park
- Governor Jim Hogg Rv Park - Quitman
Track Canton Old City 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 Canton Old City Lake Dam
Where does the data for Canton Old City 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 Canton Old City Lake Dam.