Steele Dam dam
Steele Dam
Steele Dam, located in Hill, Texas, was completed in 1980 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife conservation in the area. With a height of 24 feet and a length of 847 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet for maintaining a healthy ecosystem in the region. The primary purpose of Steele Dam is to create a fish and wildlife pond, while also serving other purposes such as fire protection, stock pond, and recreational activities.
Despite its importance for the local environment, Steele Dam is not currently rated for its condition and has a high risk assessment level of 2. The dam does not have a spillway and is not regulated by the state, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential hazards. Although the dam is privately owned, it is crucial for stakeholders and enthusiasts to stay informed about its maintenance and safety measures to ensure the protection of the surrounding community and ecosystem. As a key feature in the TR-Wolf Creek watershed, Steele Dam plays a significant role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Steele Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ash Ck At Hwy 171 Nr Malone | 434 cfs | → |
| White Rk Ck At Fm 308 Nr Irene | 498 cfs | → |
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 167 cfs | → |
| Richland Ck Nr Dawson | 0 cfs | → |
| Aquilla Ck Abv Aquilla | 0 cfs | → |
| Richland Ck At Hwy 22 Nr Mertens | 309 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Steele Dam.
Boat launches
- Pavelka Drive Hallsburg
- Pep Club Road 299, Hallsburg
- Sommerfeld Drive 1823, Waco
- Navarro County
- Northwest 3360 Road, Frost
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 3801, Waco
Campgrounds
- Liberty Hill - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Pecan Point - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Wolf Creek - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Oak Park - Navarro Mills Reservoir
- Lake Mexia Rec Area
- Airport Park
Fishing spots
Track Steele 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 Steele Dam
Where does the data for Steele 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 Steele Dam.