Cooper Dam dam
Cooper Dam
Cooper Dam, located in Guadalupe, Texas, is a private-owned earth dam designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1997. The primary purpose of this dam is flood risk reduction, serving as a critical structure along TR-Cottonwood Creek in the Galveston District. With a hydraulic height of 21.5 feet and a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet, Cooper Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding.
Despite its importance in flood control, Cooper Dam currently has a high risk assessment and is not rated for condition assessment. The dam lacks a spillway and locks, and its hazard potential is not available, indicating the need for further inspection and maintenance. While the dam has not been modified over the years, it is equipped with one outlet gate to regulate water flow. It is essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor the condition of Cooper Dam and ensure that proper risk management measures are in place to prevent any potential hazards.
In the realm of water resource management, Cooper Dam stands as a key infrastructure in Texas, highlighting the importance of effective flood risk reduction strategies. As climate change continues to impact water systems, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Cooper Dam become increasingly crucial to safeguard communities and ecosystems from the threat of flooding. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, Cooper Dam plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks and managing water resources in the region, emphasizing the need for ongoing assessment and maintenance to ensure its long-term functionality and safety.
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 Cooper Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| San Marcos Rv Nr Martindale | 181 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv At San Marcos | 1 cfs | → |
| San Marcos Rv At San Marcos | 84 cfs | → |
| Guadalupe Rv Abv Comal Rv At New Braunfels | 149 cfs | → |
| Comal Rv At New Braunfels | 151 cfs | → |
| Comal Rv (Oc) Nr Landa Lk | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooper Dam.
Boat launches
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- State Park Road 17065-17099, Kingsbury
- Saint Joseph Street 839, Maxwell
- Plant Road, Kingsbury
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- 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 Cooper 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 Cooper Dam
Where does the data for Cooper 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 Cooper Dam.