Smith Lake Dam dam
Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam, located in Wiergate, Texas, stands as a prominent Earth dam completed in 1950 with a height of 16 feet and a length of 1290 feet. This private-owned structure on TR-Little Cow Creek serves various purposes and has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. Despite having a high hazard potential, its condition remains unrated, and no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place.
The dam, with a primary purpose classified as "Other," plays a crucial role in regulating water resources in the region. Its design features a buttress core type and a hydraulic height of 16 feet, contributing to its stability and functionality. Although the dam lacks a spillway, it is equipped with a single outlet gate. The risk assessment for Smith Lake Dam indicates a high level of risk, emphasizing the need for adequate monitoring and maintenance protocols to ensure public safety and environmental conservation.
Situated within Newton County, Texas, Smith Lake Dam is under the jurisdiction of the Galveston District and falls under the oversight of the Texas state permitting and inspection agencies. With no federal regulation or enforcement in place, the dam's operations and maintenance are solely managed by its private owners. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and assess the dam's condition, it remains essential to prioritize risk management measures and emergency preparedness to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard the surrounding communities.
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 Smith Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Burkeville | 557 cfs | → |
| Big Cow Ck Nr Newton | 62 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv At Toledo Bd Res Nr Burkeville | 328 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Bon Wier | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Bayou Anacoco Near Rosepine | 377 cfs | → |
| Bayou Toro Near Toro | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smith Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Toledo Boat Launch
- Willow Oak Road Sabine County
- F Road 130 Sabine County
- Sandy Creek Public Boat Ramp
- Jasper County
Campgrounds
- Willow Oak
- Willow Oak: (409) 625-1940
- South Toledo Bend State Park
- Pleasure Point State Rec Area - Toledo Bend Lake
- Toledo Bend Military
- Mill Creek - Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Us Highway 69 To Ba Steinhagen Reservoir
- Town Bluff Dam To Hwy 96 Bridge
- Us Highway 59 To Us Highway 69
- Preserve Boundary In The Big Sandy Unit To Confluence With Big Sandy Creek
- Hwy 96 Bridge To Neches River Saltwater Barrier
- Confluence With Big Sandy Creek To Confluence With The Neches River
Track Smith 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 Smith Lake Dam
Where does the data for Smith 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 Smith Lake Dam.