Duval Dam West dam
Duval Dam West
Duval Dam West, located in Travis County, Texas, is a critical infrastructure designed by FREESE AND NICHOLS to mitigate flood risks along Walnut Creek. Completed in 1984, this Roller-Compacted Concrete dam stands at 28 feet tall and spans 1340 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, the dam's current condition assessment is unsatisfactory, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding area.
Managed by a local government entity, Duval Dam West falls under the regulatory oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's spillway, with a width of 13 feet, is uncontrolled, emphasizing the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential hazards. The moderate risk assessment rating, combined with the dam's outdated last inspection date in 2014, underscores the importance of proactive risk management measures and emergency preparedness protocols to safeguard the community in case of unforeseen events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Duval Dam West serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of infrastructure, environmental protection, and public safety. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, the maintenance and resilience of structures like Duval Dam West are crucial for ensuring the sustainable management of water resources and minimizing the potential for catastrophic flooding. Collaborative efforts between local authorities, regulatory agencies, and the community will be essential in safeguarding the integrity of Duval Dam West and enhancing its capacity to adapt to evolving climate challenges in the years to come.
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 Duval Dam West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Ck At Silverway Dr | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Walnut Ck At Georgian Dr | 1 cfs | → |
| Bull Ck At Loop 360 Nr Austin | 7 cfs | → |
| Walnut Ck At Dessau Rd | 7 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Lake Ck Pkwy Nr Austin | 1 cfs | → |
| Waller Ck At Koenig Lane | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Duval Dam West.
Boat launches
- North Capital Of Texas Highway 5015, Austin
- Greenshores Drive 6921, Travis County
- Bullick Hollow Road 13601, Austin
- Redbud Trail, Austin
- Lake Pflugerville Park
- Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail, Austin
Campgrounds
- Camp Mabry Military
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Sandy Creek - Lake Travis
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Mckinney Falls State Park
Fishing spots
Track Duval Dam West 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 Duval Dam West
Where does the data for Duval Dam West 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 Duval Dam West.