Bayou Loco Dam dam
Bayou Loco Dam
Bayou Loco Dam, located in Nacogdoches, Texas, stands as a vital structure designed by FREESE AND NICHOLS in 1977 for the primary purpose of recreation, with additional benefits for water supply. This earth dam, with a height of 71 feet and a length of 3675 feet, serves as a key component in managing the water resources of the area. With a storage capacity of 122,000 acre-feet and a drainage area of 88.6 square miles, Bayou Loco Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and ensuring water availability for various purposes.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Bayou Loco Dam has been inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam boasts a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2021, with a moderate risk rating. Equipped with uncontrolled and valve outlet gates, the dam also features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 521 feet to manage excess water flow. Despite its moderate risk level, Bayou Loco Dam continues to play a pivotal role in water management and recreation activities in the region, underlining its importance for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Bayou Loco Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Angelina Rv Nr Alto | 314 cfs | → |
| Bayou Lanana At Nacogdoches | 9 cfs | → |
| E Fk Angelina Rv Nr Cushing | 132 cfs | → |
| Attoyac Bayou Nr Chireno | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Diboll | 555 cfs | → |
| Mud Ck Nr Jacksonville | 290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bayou Loco Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 753, Nacogdoches
- Lake Nacogdoches West Park, Nacogdoches
- Kurth Lake Road, Lufkin
- Texas 94 22801, Apple Springs
- Etole Park Road, Etoile
- County Road 1510, Center
Campgrounds
- Neches Bluff Overlook
- Neches Bluff Overlook: (936) 655-2299
- Ratcliff Lake
- Ratcliff Lake: (936) 655-2299
- Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
- Mission Tejas State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Bayou Loco 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 Bayou Loco Dam
Where does the data for Bayou Loco 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 Bayou Loco Dam.