Sammis Lake Dam dam
Sammis Lake Dam
Sammis Lake Dam, located in Gonzales, Texas, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Built in 1978 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and stretches for 1100 feet, providing a storage capacity of 106 acre-feet. The dam, situated on TR-Copperas Creek, serves as a vital resource for water management in the region.
With a high hazard potential rating and a risk assessment score of 2, Sammis Lake Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water security for the surrounding area. Despite not being state regulated, the dam undergoes regular inspections and meets state permitting requirements. The absence of a spillway and limited discharge capacity highlight the importance of effective monitoring and maintenance to uphold the integrity of the structure and safeguard the community from potential hazards.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Sammis Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between water resource management and climate resilience. Its strategic location and design underscore the need for proactive risk management measures to address the challenges posed by changing climate patterns and ensure the sustainable use of water resources for future generations.
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 Sammis Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Peach Creek At Hwy 90 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Sandy Fork Ck At Hwy 97 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Colorado Rv At Smithville | 624 cfs | → |
| Plum Ck Nr Luling | 16 cfs | → |
| Peach Ck Bl Dilworth | 0 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv At Gonzales | 322 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sammis Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Street Joseph Street, Gonzales
- Riverside Drive 375, Bastrop
- Prairie Valley Road 1517, West Point
- Carter Street 1900, Bastrop
- U.S. 90, Luling
Campgrounds
- Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park
- Palmetto State Park
- Buescher State Park
- Group Camping
- Independence City Park
- Green Dickson Park
Fishing spots
Track Sammis 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 Sammis Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sammis 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 Sammis Lake Dam.