Wells Lake Dam No 3 dam
Wells Lake Dam No 3
Wells Lake Dam No 3, located in Wood County, Texas, is a private earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 16.8 feet with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. Despite its relatively small size, the dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community.
With a drainage area of 0.19 square miles, Wells Lake Dam No 3 serves as a key feature in the landscape, creating a 4-acre surface area for activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. While the dam does not have a spillway, it is equipped with one outlet gate for controlled water release. The dam's risk assessment has been rated as high (2), emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety.
The Fort Worth District of the US Army Corps of Engineers oversees Wells Lake Dam No 3, with no federal agency funding or involvement in its construction or operation. Despite its private ownership, the dam serves as an essential resource for the local community, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and recreational opportunities 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 Wells Lake Dam No 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Fork Ck Nr Quitman | 45 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Mineola | 904 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Hawkins | 531 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Ck Nr Big Sandy | 52 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Wills Point | 658 cfs | → |
| Sabine Rv Nr Gladewater | 535 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wells Lake Dam No 3.
Boat launches
- Private Road 5183 Wood County
- County Road 1973 Wood County
- Wood County
- Fm 2946 Rains County
- County Road 3440 2448, Wood County
- Fm 14 Smith County
Campgrounds
- Governor Jim Hogg Rv Park - Quitman
- Lake Quitman Park
- Lake Holbrook Park - West
- Lake Holbrook Park - South
- Lake Winnsboro North Park
- Camp Deer Run
Fishing spots
Track Wells Lake Dam No 3 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 Wells Lake Dam No 3
Where does the data for Wells Lake Dam No 3 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 Wells Lake Dam No 3.