Powell Lake Dam dam
Powell Lake Dam
Powell Lake Dam, located in Van Zandt, Texas, is a privately owned structure completed in 1959 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam is of earth type with a buttress core, standing at a height of 18 feet and a length of 550 feet. With a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, the dam serves a drainage area of 0.6 square miles, providing essential water resources for the surrounding community.
Maintained and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Powell Lake Dam has a fair condition assessment as of October 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 503 feet and two uncontrolled outlet gates. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam's hazard potential is not currently available. The last inspection in June 2017 and subsequent inspections every five years ensure the safety and functionality of the dam for both water resource management and recreational purposes in the area.
A significant feature of the Fort Worth District, Powell Lake Dam plays a vital role in water resource management along the TR-Little Saline Creek. With a surface area of 14 acres and a maximum discharge of 2 cubic feet per second, the dam contributes to the environmental sustainability and water supply security in the region. As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Powell Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in balancing water needs and ecological preservation in Texas.
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 Powell Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 16 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 111 cfs | → |
| Cedar Ck Nr Kemp | 1 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 259 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Powell Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Private Road 5183 Wood County
- Park Road Henderson County
- Private Road 7398 469, Wills Point
- Wood County
- Rains County
Campgrounds
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Governor Jim Hogg Rv Park - Quitman
- Purtis Creek State Park
- Tyler State Park
- Lake Quitman Park
Fishing spots
Track Powell 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 Powell Lake Dam
Where does the data for Powell 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 Powell Lake Dam.