Operating Basins 1-5 dam
Operating Basins 1-5
Operating Basins 1-5, located in Calhoun, Texas, are privately owned structures regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for water resource management. Built in 1965 by LOCKWOOD ANDREWS & NEWMAN, these Earth-type dams stand at a height of 11.5 feet and have a storage capacity of 5702 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 0.85 square miles. Despite lacking a spillway, the dams are rated in fair condition and undergo inspections every five years to ensure their structural integrity.
These basins, situated along the OFF CH-WEST COLOMA CREEK, play a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. With a surface area of 543 acres and a normal storage capacity of 3810 acre-feet, they are designed to mitigate flooding risks and provide essential water storage for agricultural and industrial purposes. While they have not been modified in recent years, their high risk rating of 2 underscores the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to protect against potential hazards and ensure their long-term functionality.
Owned and operated by a private entity, Operating Basins 1-5 represent a significant investment in water infrastructure in Texas. With their strategic location and substantial storage capacity, these dams contribute to the overall water management efforts in the region, highlighting the intersection of water resources and climate resilience. As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water availability and quality, the proper upkeep of these structures is key to safeguarding the local community against potential water-related risks in the future.
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 Operating Basins 1-5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North End Of Gbra Calhoun Canal Nr Long Mott | 6 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv At Sh 35 Nr Tivoli | 1,480 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv Nr Tivoli | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Placedo Ck Nr Placedo | 6 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv Nr Bloomington | 693 cfs | → |
| San Antonio Rv Nr Mcfaddin | 702 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Operating Basins 1-5.
Boat launches
- Highway 35, Port Lavaca
- Public Boat Ramp
- Swan Point Road 1500-1522, Seadrift
- Bayfront Peninsula Park
- 6 Mile Beach Boat Launch
- Waterfront Park Boat Ramp
Track Operating Basins 1-5 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 Operating Basins 1-5
Where does the data for Operating Basins 1-5 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 Operating Basins 1-5.