Cain Lake Dam dam
Cain Lake Dam
Cain Lake Dam, located in Leon County, Texas, is a private earth dam built in 1977 with a height of 15 feet and a length of 600 feet. The dam is designed as a buttress-type and is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Despite not having a spillway, the dam has a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 41 acre-feet.
The primary purpose of Cain Lake Dam is listed as "Other," with no specific information provided on its purposes or associated structures. The dam's hazard potential is not available, but it is rated as having a high risk level. While the condition assessment is not rated, the dam is inspected, permitted, and regulated by the state as per the data updated on July 23, 2018. The risk management measures, emergency action plans, and inundation maps for the dam are not specified in the data, but the dam is considered to have a high risk level.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Cain Lake Dam may find its design and regulatory information intriguing. With a focus on private ownership, limited structural details, and a high risk assessment, the dam presents a unique case study for understanding the management and potential challenges associated with earth dams in Texas. Further investigation into the dam's associated risks, emergency preparedness, and overall condition could provide valuable insights into the resilience of water infrastructure 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 Cain Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Keechi Ck Nr Oakwood | 39 cfs | → |
| Big Ck Nr Freestone | 10 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Oakwood | 3,220 cfs | → |
| Navasota Rv Nr Easterly | 101 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Crockett | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Navasota Rv Abv Groesbeck | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cain Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Public Use Area 5 - Thornton
- Public Use Area 3 - Groesbeck
- Public Use Area 2 - Groesbeck
- Fairfield Lake State Park
- Fort Parker State Park
Track Cain 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 Cain Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cain 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 Cain Lake Dam.