Stonecipher Dam dam
Stonecipher Dam
Stonecipher Dam, located in Fayette County, Texas, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1996. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and serves a variety of purposes, with a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-EAST NAVIDAD RIVER, the dam has a high risk assessment level of 2, emphasizing the importance of proper management and monitoring.
Despite being a non-federal dam, Stonecipher Dam is subject to state permitting and inspection requirements, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam's hazard potential is classified as "Not Available," with a condition assessment of "Not Rated." The absence of a spillway and limited discharge capacity adds complexity to its risk management, highlighting the need for proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness measures.
With its unique design featuring a buttress core type, Stonecipher Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its location in the picturesque city of Swiss Alp, Texas, adds to the charm of this structure, making it a noteworthy landmark in the region. As stakeholders continue to assess and address the dam's risk factors, it serves as a reminder of the vital role that infrastructure plays in water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Stonecipher Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rv Abv La Grange | 320 cfs | → |
| Peach Creek At Hwy 90 Nr Waelder | · | → |
| Colorado Rv At Smithville | 579 cfs | → |
| Navidad Rv Nr Hallettsville | 9 cfs | → |
| Lavaca Rv At Hallettsville | 2 cfs | → |
| Redgate Ck Nr Columbus | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stonecipher Dam.
Boat launches
- West Highway 71 Business 737-971, La Grange
- Prairie Valley Road 1517, West Point
- Park Prairie Road 1298, Fayetteville
- Highway 159 4705, Fayetteville
- Thousand Trails Lane 1062, Columbus
- Riverside Drive 375, Bastrop
Campgrounds
- Park Prarie - Lake Fayette
- Oak Thicket Park - Fayette Lake
- Town Square - Fayetteville
- Koa Columbus
- Bluff Creek Ranch
- Vernon L Richards Riverbend Park
Fishing spots
Track Stonecipher 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 Stonecipher Dam
Where does the data for Stonecipher 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 Stonecipher Dam.