Winkenwerder Lake Dam dam
Winkenwerder Lake Dam
Winkenwerder Lake Dam, located in Gonzales, Texas, was completed in 1962 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This private earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet with a length of 1425 feet, offering storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Mitchell Creek, this dam is crucial for water resource management in the region, particularly for fire protection and agricultural needs.
Despite being privately owned and not regulated by the state, Winkenwerder Lake Dam poses a high risk due to its condition assessment being rated as 'Not Rated'. The dam lacks a spillway and has only one outlet gate, which raises concerns about its ability to handle maximum discharge levels. With no recent inspection data available, the emergency action plan status and risk management measures for the dam remain unknown, leaving potential vulnerabilities in the event of a catastrophic event.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Winkenwerder Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study in the intersection of private ownership, dam safety, and environmental risk management. As efforts continue to assess and address the dam's condition and potential hazards, this structure serves as a focal point for discussions on the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring in safeguarding water resources and communities against the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.
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 Winkenwerder Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Rv At Gonzales | 336 cfs | → |
| Peach Ck Bl Dilworth | 0 cfs | → |
| Sandy Fork Ck At Hwy 97 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Guadalupe Rv At Cr 143 Nr Gonzales | 186 cfs | → |
| Peach Creek At Hwy 90 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Guadalupe Rv At Hwy 183 Nr Hochheim | 292 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Winkenwerder Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Street Joseph Street, Gonzales
- U.S. 90, Luling
- Stairtown Road 515, Luling
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Fm 766 3708, Cuero
Campgrounds
- Independence City Park
- Lake Wood Rec Area
- Group Camping
- Palmetto State Park
- Green Dickson Park
- Hub City Rv Park
Fishing spots
Track Winkenwerder 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 Winkenwerder Lake Dam
Where does the data for Winkenwerder 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 Winkenwerder Lake Dam.