Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam dam
Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam
Southwest Laterals WS SCS Site 5a Dam, located in Concho, Texas, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along Cottonwood Creek. Built in 1990 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 2,090 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 627 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition and is state-regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with regular inspections and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
The primary purpose of the Southwest Laterals WS SCS Site 5a Dam is flood risk reduction, with a strong focus on protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation. The dam features a slide gate outlet for controlled water release and has a hydraulic height matching its structural height of 24 feet. While there is currently no spillway in place, the dam's design and construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service have proven effective in managing floodwaters and protecting downstream communities. With a high hazard potential rating and a risk assessment of 2 (on a scale of 1-5), ongoing risk management measures are essential to ensure the continued safety and reliability of this vital water resource infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Southwest Laterals WS SCS Site 5a Dam presents an intriguing case study of how earth dams can effectively mitigate flood risks in Texas. With its strategic location along Cottonwood Creek and its significant storage capacity, this dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the local community from potential inundation events. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water flow in the region, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like this dam will be essential to ensuring the resilience of water resources in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rv Nr Stacy | 6 cfs | → |
| Brady Ck At Brady | 0 cfs | → |
| Concho Rv At Paint Rock | 11 cfs | → |
| San Saba Rv At Menard | 13 cfs | → |
| San Saba Rv Nr Brady | 3 cfs | → |
| Elm Ck At Ballinger | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam.
Track Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a 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 Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam
Where does the data for Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a 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 Southwest Laterals Ws Scs Site 5a Dam.