Earl Smith Dam 2 dam
Earl Smith Dam 2
Earl Smith Dam 2, located in Gray County, Texas, was completed in 1976 by the USDA NRCS and stands at a height of 24 feet. This private earth dam serves a primary purpose other than flood control and has a storage capacity of 102 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 73 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-THUT Creek and is managed by the owner, with state permitting and inspection in place.
Despite its small size, Earl Smith Dam 2 poses a high risk due to its condition assessment being not rated and its hazard potential not available. The dam lacks a spillway and is equipped with one outlet gate, with no associated locks. While it doesn't fall under USACE jurisdiction, its risk management measures, emergency action plan, and inundation maps status remain unclear. With a drainage area of 420 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Earl Smith Dam 2 an intriguing subject for further study and monitoring. Its design and construction by the NRCS, coupled with its high risk classification, make it a valuable case study for understanding the challenges and importance of maintaining aging infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. As an earth dam on TR-THUT Creek, the dam's role in managing water flow and storage highlights the interconnectedness of water resources and climate resilience 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 Earl Smith Dam 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Fk Red Rv Nr Shamrock | 6 cfs | → |
| Canadian Rv Nr Canadian | 24 cfs | → |
| Lelia Lk Ck Bl Bell Ck Nr Hedley | · | → |
| Sweetwater Ck Nr Kelton | 4 cfs | → |
| Big Blue Ck Nr Fritch | 0 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater Creek Near Sweetwater | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earl Smith Dam 2.
Track Earl Smith Dam 2 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 Earl Smith Dam 2
Where does the data for Earl Smith Dam 2 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 Earl Smith Dam 2.