Elkins Lake Dam dam
Elkins Lake Dam
Elkins Lake Dam, located in Garland, Texas, is a private earth dam completed in 1960 for the primary purposes of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Standing at a height of 12 feet with a length of 422 feet, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and a normal storage of 50 acre-feet. It serves as a crucial water resource for the area, particularly for fire protection and recreational use.
The dam, situated on TR-Young Creek, is owned and managed by private entities, with no state regulation or enforcement. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is not rated, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. With no spillway and limited associated structures, the dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding community, prompting the need for a comprehensive emergency action plan and risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Elkins Lake Dam represents both a valuable asset and a potential risk to the local ecosystem. As an earth dam with limited regulatory oversight, its maintenance and safety measures are crucial for ensuring the continued availability of water resources and protecting against potential hazards. Monitoring the dam's condition, implementing risk management strategies, and preparing for potential emergencies are essential steps in safeguarding the community and the environment.
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 Elkins Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Near De Kalb | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv At Ih 30 Nr Dalby Springs | 316 cfs | → |
| Anderson Ck At Hwy 98 Nr Simms | 388 cfs | → |
| White Oak Ck At Ih 30 Nr Omaha | 60 cfs | → |
| Cuthand Ck At Fm 910 Nr Cuthand | 7 cfs | → |
| Sulphur Rv Nr Talco | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkins Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bowie County
- County Road 1205 Bowie County
- Park Road Bowie County
- Kickapoo Lodge Road Cass County
- North Jefferson Avenue Mount Pleasant
- Red River Road South Bowie County
Campgrounds
- Thomas Lake Park Dispersed
- Elliott Lake Military - Red River
- Herron Creek - Wright Patman Reservoir
- Malden Lake - Wright Pattman Lake
- Kelly Creek Park - Lake Wright Patman
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Elkins 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 Elkins Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elkins 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 Elkins Lake Dam.