West King Dam dam
West King Dam
West King Dam, located in Eastland, Texas, on the North Fork of the Leon River, was completed in 1965 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This privately owned earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet. Despite lacking a spillway, the dam has been classified with a high risk assessment due to its age and condition.
The dam, with a length of 350 feet, has no associated structures and has only one outlet gate. It is not regulated by the state but undergoes regular inspections. The risk potential for the dam is rated as high, emphasizing the need for effective risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the structure. Despite its historical significance for irrigation in the area, the dam's condition remains unrated, highlighting the importance of ongoing assessment and maintenance to mitigate potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, West King Dam serves as a reminder of the vital role that infrastructure plays in managing and distributing water for agricultural purposes. The dam's presence on the Leon River underscores the challenges and responsibilities associated with maintaining aging structures to safeguard water resources and communities against potential risks. As climate change continues to impact water availability and infrastructure resilience, the importance of monitoring and managing dams like West King Dam becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable water management in the region.
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 West King Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sandy Ck Abv Breckenridge | 0 cfs | → |
| Deep Ck At Moran | · | → |
| Leon Rv Nr De Leon | 8 cfs | → |
| Sabana Rv Nr De Leon | 14 cfs | → |
| Hubbard Ck Bl Albany | 4 cfs | → |
| Copperas Ck At Fm 2247 Nr Comanche | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West King Dam.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track West King 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 West King Dam
Where does the data for West King 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 West King Dam.