San Marcos State Fish Hatchery dam
San Marcos State Fish Hatchery
San Marcos State Fish Hatchery, located in Hays, Texas, is a state-owned facility designed by FISH PRO, INC. The hatchery is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and is responsible for the production and maintenance of fish populations in the area. The hatchery is situated on the San Marcos River, providing an ideal environment for fish breeding and conservation efforts.
Constructed in 1948, the San Marcos State Fish Hatchery features an earth dam with a height of 21 feet and a length of 3200 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and serves multiple purposes, including fish production and conservation. The facility has a spillway type of "Uncontrolled" and one uncontrolled outlet gate. Despite being in fair condition, the hatchery has a moderate risk assessment level (3) and is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety and functionality.
With its strategic location on the San Marcos River and its essential role in fish production and conservation, the San Marcos State Fish Hatchery is a vital resource for water management and climate enthusiasts. The facility's commitment to maintaining healthy fish populations and its regulation by the TCEQ demonstrate its dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Visitors to the hatchery can witness firsthand the important role it plays in preserving aquatic ecosystems and supporting biodiversity 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 San Marcos State Fish Hatchery -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blanco Rv At San Marcos | 1 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At San Marcos | 91 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv Nr Martindale | 160 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
| Blanco Rv At Halifax Rch Nr Kyle | 4 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At Wimberley | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near San Marcos State Fish Hatchery.
Boat launches
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- State Park Road 17065-17099, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Stairtown Road 515, Luling
Campgrounds
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Lockhart State Park
- Camp Huaco Springs
- North Park - Canyon Lake
- Canyon Lake Military - Randolph Afb
- Canyon - Canyon Lake
Fishing spots
Track San Marcos State Fish Hatchery 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 San Marcos State Fish Hatchery
Where does the data for San Marcos State Fish Hatchery 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 San Marcos State Fish Hatchery.