Staples Gin Dam dam
Staples Gin Dam
Staples Gin Dam, located in Fentress, Texas, along the San Marcos River, is a privately owned buttress dam primarily used for hydroelectric purposes. Standing at a height of 10 feet and with a length of 180 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 51 acre-feet. Despite being state-regulated, it is not under state jurisdiction and does not fall under state enforcement.
Constructed by Galbraith Engineering, the dam does not have a spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in 1987, with the condition assessment currently not rated. The risk assessment of the dam is classified as high, with a hazard potential that is not available. While the dam does not fall under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, it remains a significant structure for water resource management and hydroelectric energy production in the region.
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 Staples Gin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Marcos Rv Nr Martindale | 160 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At San Marcos | 1 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At San Marcos | 91 cfs | → |
| Plum Ck At Lockhart | 26 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At Luling | 97 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Staples Gin Dam.
Boat launches
- State Park Road 17065-17099, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Stairtown Road 515, Luling
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
Campgrounds
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Lockhart State Park
- Camp Huaco Springs
- Palmetto State Park
- Group Camping
- North Park - Canyon Lake
Fishing spots
Track Staples Gin 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 Staples Gin Dam
Where does the data for Staples Gin 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 Staples Gin Dam.