Maria Lake Dam dam
Maria Lake Dam
Maria Lake Dam, located in Walker County, Texas, was completed in 1976 by the USDA NRCS and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet and stretches 950 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet. While the dam lacks a spillway, it is equipped with one outlet gate for water release. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, but it is categorized as having a high risk level.
The dam, situated on TR-Burt Creek, is privately owned and not regulated by the state. It is primarily used for local water management and wildlife conservation efforts. The surrounding area offers opportunities for outdoor activities and serves as a vital resource for the community. Although the dam does not have a designated emergency action plan, measures are in place to manage any potential risks associated with the structure. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Maria Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a modest yet important water management system in Texas that reflects a balance between human needs and environmental stewardship.
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 Maria Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Huntsville | 15 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo Ck At Onalaska | 383 cfs | → |
| Bedias Ck Nr Madisonville | 196 cfs | → |
| Long King Ck At Livingston | 1,360 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Bl Lk Conroe Nr Conroe | 100 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Nr Goodrich | 8,590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Maria Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverside
- 190 Boat Launch 898, Point Blank
- Harbor Point Boat Launch
- San Jacinto County
- Fm 2457 4298, Polk County
- Cedar Point Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Four Notch Hunter Camp
- Huntsville State Park
- Wolf Creek Park - Lake Livingston
- Cagle Recreation Area
- Cagle Rec Area
- Stubblefield Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Farm To Market Road 1375 To East Fork Of San Jacinto River
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Trinity River
- Preserve Boundary Of The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Village Creek
- State Highway 7 To Us Highway 59
- State Highway 21 To State Highwy 7
Track Maria 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 Maria Lake Dam
Where does the data for Maria 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 Maria Lake Dam.