Dale Dam dam
Dale Dam
Dale Dam, located in Smith County, Texas, was completed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 316 feet, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, Dale Dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with state inspection and enforcement ensuring its safety and compliance.
The dam, situated on Harris Creek, is primarily owned and managed by a private entity, with no federal agency involvement in its operations or funding. While the hazard potential is not currently available, the risk assessment categorizes Dale Dam as high risk (2), prompting the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures. With Louie Gohmert as the congressional representative for the area, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in Smith County and contributes to the local ecosystem's health and resilience.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Dale Dam's unique design and purpose, providing essential services for the community while also highlighting the importance of effective dam management and safety regulations. Despite its small scale, the dam plays a significant role in local water distribution and management, showcasing the intersection of human intervention and natural resource conservation. With its earth construction and buttress core type, Dale Dam stands as a testament to responsible water infrastructure development in the heart of 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 Dale Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 259 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 84 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater | 380 cfs | → |
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 20 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Abv Longview | 308 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dale Dam.
Boat launches
- Fm 14 Smith County
- County Road 3440 2448, Wood County
- South Tyler Street 901, Gladewater
- Estes Parkway 5001, Lakeport
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- Private Road 5183 Wood County
Campgrounds
- Tyler State Park
- Lake Hawkins County Rv Park
- Fish Hawke Point
- City Park Camp - Overton
- Camp Deer Run
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
Fishing spots
Track Dale 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 Dale Dam
Where does the data for Dale 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 Dale Dam.