Wilson Lake Dam dam
Wilson Lake Dam
Wilson Lake Dam, located in Palo Pinto, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1970 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Standing at a height of 35 feet and spanning a length of 350 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 224 acre-feet and serves as a crucial water resource in the area. Situated on the TR-BAKER HOLLOW-TURKEY CREEK waterway, the dam plays a vital role in providing water for various purposes.
Despite being privately owned, Wilson Lake Dam is regulated and inspected by the state of Texas, ensuring that it meets safety standards and poses no hazard to the surrounding environment. The dam has no spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate for water release. With a risk assessment rating of "High (2)", the dam is considered to have some level of risk, although specific risk management measures are not detailed in the data. Its condition is assessed as "Not Rated", indicating a need for further evaluation to determine its structural integrity and safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wilson Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam serving multiple purposes in a rural setting. With its historical construction date and ongoing state inspections, the dam offers a glimpse into the complexities of managing water resources and ensuring the safety of infrastructure in diverse landscapes. As efforts to address climate change and water scarcity continue to grow, understanding the role of dams like Wilson Lake Dam becomes increasingly important in securing sustainable water management practices for the future.
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 Wilson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv Nr Palo Pinto | 140 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Graford | 126 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr Dennis | 287 cfs | → |
| Clear Fk Trinity Rv Nr Weatherford | · | → |
| Brazos Rv Nr South Bend | 5 cfs | → |
| W Fk Trinity Rv Nr Jacksboro | 106 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Road 36 Palo Pinto County
- Palo Pinto County
- Old Tin Top Road 1868-1998, Weatherford
- Runaway Bay Marina
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Wilson 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 Wilson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wilson 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 Wilson Lake Dam.