Cook Levee dam
Cook Levee
Cook Levee, located in Harris County, Texas, along the TR-Buffalo Bayou, was completed in 1979 by the USDA NRCS for the primary purpose of irrigation. This private earth dam, with a height of 7 feet and a length of 2728 feet, serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in the region. The levee has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for state inspection, permitting, and enforcement.
Despite its critical role in water management, Cook Levee has not been rated for condition assessment and is classified with a high risk potential. The dam lacks a spillway and associated drainage area, which adds to its risk profile. With no inundation maps prepared and limited emergency preparedness measures in place, there is a need for heightened attention to ensure the safety and integrity of this structure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and advocate for the proper maintenance and management of Cook Levee to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure sustainable water resource utilization 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 Cook Levee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S Mayde Ck At Heathergold Dr Nr Addicks | 580 cfs | → |
| Cypress Ck At Katy-Hockley Rd Nr Hockley | 53 cfs | → |
| Bear Ck Nr Barker | 230 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Bayou Nr Katy | 1,160 cfs | → |
| Cypress Ck At House-Hahl Rd Nr Cypress | 371 cfs | → |
| Langham Ck At W Little York Rd Nr Addicks | 285 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cook Levee.
Boat launches
- Meadowlark Lane 1105, Sugar Land
- Woodway Drive Houston
- Highway 159 East 11980, Bellville
- Edgewater Drive 32210, Montgomery County
- Boat Launch The Woodlands
- Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands
Track Cook Levee 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 Cook Levee
Where does the data for Cook Levee 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 Cook Levee.