Joseph Lake Dam dam
Joseph Lake Dam
Joseph Lake Dam, also known as Tom Joseph Lake No. 25, is a private dam located in Hamilton, Texas, along TR-Bear Creek. Built in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes and as a water supply source. With a storage capacity of 132 acre-feet, it offers opportunities for outdoor activities while also contributing to local water resources.
Despite not being state-regulated, Joseph Lake Dam is inspected and permitted by Texas authorities, ensuring its safety and functionality. The dam lacks a spillway and has no associated structures, indicating a simple yet effective design. With a high hazard potential rating and a risk assessment of 2, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plans are crucial to mitigating potential hazards and maintaining public safety. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Joseph Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure contributing to both recreation and water supply in a rural Texas setting.
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 Joseph Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Leon Rv Nr Hamilton | 12 cfs | → |
| N Bosque Rv At Hico | 7 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Hasse | 7 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv At Gatesville | 146 cfs | → |
| Cowhouse Ck At Pidcoke | 33 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 Joseph Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Comanche County
- R 6 Comanche County
- Farm-To-Market Road 2861 Comanche County
- Port Promontory Drive Comanche County
Campgrounds
- Hico City Park
- Sowell Creek - Proctor Lake
- Copperas Creek - Proctor Lake
- Promontory - Proctor Lake
- Dublin City Park
- Weiser Community Park
Fishing spots
Track Joseph 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 Joseph Lake Dam
Where does the data for Joseph 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 Joseph Lake Dam.