Cowan Dam dam
Cowan Dam
Cowan Dam, located in Smith County, Texas, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1972. This dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 629 feet, Cowan Dam has a storage capacity of 123 acre-feet and is primarily an earth dam with a buttress core type.
Although the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment, it is considered to have high risk potential. It does not have a spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate. Despite not being regulated by the state, Cowan Dam undergoes regular inspections and is permitted by the state regulatory agency. The Fort Worth District of the USACE oversees this dam, ensuring that it meets safety guidelines and manages any potential risks associated with its operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cowan Dam presents an interesting case study of a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in water management and conservation in the region. Its design and purpose highlight the importance of sustainable water infrastructure and the need for effective risk management strategies to mitigate potential hazards. The collaboration between federal agencies, such as the USDA NRCS and the USACE, showcases the multi-faceted approach to dam management and underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring such critical water resources.
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 Cowan Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mud Ck Nr Jacksonville | 290 cfs | → |
| Neches Rv Nr Neches | 143 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 259 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 103 cfs | → |
| Rabbit Ck At Kilgore | 20 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cowan Dam.
Boat launches
- Farm To Market 315, Chandler
- County Road 3504, Bullard
- Farm-To-Market Road 1892, Frankston
- South Shore Drive 3301-3371, Jacksonville
- Fm 14 Smith County
Campgrounds
- Lake Jacksonville Campground
- Tyler State Park
- City Park Camp - Overton
- Rusk - Palestine Park
- Camp Meisenbach
- Staff Cabins
Fishing spots
Track Cowan 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 Cowan Dam
Where does the data for Cowan 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 Cowan Dam.