Brenni Lake Dam dam
Brenni Lake Dam
Brenni Lake Dam, also known as Mertz Dam, is a privately-owned structure located in Williamson County, Texas. Built in 1974 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 586 feet in length, with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. The dam has a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 59 acre-feet, and covers a surface area of 24 acres.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Brenni Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. Despite being rated as high risk due to its hazard potential, the condition of the dam is currently not rated, and it lacks an emergency action plan. With no spillway and a lack of drainage area, the dam poses potential risks that are being closely monitored by regulatory agencies to ensure public safety and environmental protection in the surrounding area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Brenni Lake Dam for its role in providing essential services like fire protection, recreation, and stock water supply. While the dam's risk potential is a concern, ongoing oversight and regulation by the state demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the dam's integrity and safeguarding the surrounding community and ecosystem. As a key feature in the watershed of TR-LONG BRANCH, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Brenni Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel Rv At Laneport | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Willis Ck Nr Granger | 60 cfs | → |
| Little Rv Nr Rockdale | 951 cfs | → |
| Brushy Ck At Kenney Fort Blvd At Round Rock | 155 cfs | → |
| Little Rv At Cameron | 5,290 cfs | → |
| Berry Ck At Airport Rd Nr Georgetown | 128 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brenni Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 347 1520, Granger
- Williamson County
- Lake Pflugerville Park
- Little Webberville Park
- Lake Overlook Road 598, Georgetown
- Cedar Breaks Park Road, Georgetown
Campgrounds
- Wilson Fox - Granger Lake
- Taylor - Granger Lake
- Willis Creek - Granger Lake
- Berry Springs Park And Preserve
- North Shore Park - Lake Bastrop
- Cedar Breaks - Lake Georgetown
Track Brenni 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 Brenni Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brenni 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 Brenni Lake Dam.