Baldwin Dam dam
Baldwin Dam
Baldwin Dam, located in Walker County, Texas, is a private-owned structure primarily designed for recreational purposes on the Prairie Branch river. The dam, constructed with earth and buttress core types, stands at a height of 20 feet and spans a length of 600 feet, providing a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet. Despite its recreational focus, the dam's condition assessment was reported as poor in April 2021, with a high risk level assigned due to its deteriorating state.
Managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Baldwin Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. The dam lacks a spillway and locks, with only one outlet gate identified. The last recorded inspection of the dam took place in March 2006, highlighting the need for more frequent assessments to monitor its condition and potential hazards. With no emergency action plan (EAP) in place and limited risk management measures documented, stakeholders may need to address the dam's vulnerabilities to mitigate any safety concerns.
As a focal point for recreation in the area, Baldwin Dam serves as both a leisure destination and a vital water resource. However, its poor condition and high risk designation underscore the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring to safeguard its structural integrity and prevent any potential emergencies. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in the complexities of managing and maintaining dams like Baldwin to balance recreational enjoyment with environmental 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 Baldwin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Huntsville | 0 cfs | → |
| Bedias Ck Nr Madisonville | 21 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Bl Lk Conroe Nr Conroe | 100 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck Nr Dobbin | 57 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Sendera Ranch Rd Nr Conroe | 138 cfs | → |
| W Fk San Jacinto Rv Nr Conroe | 501 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baldwin Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverside
- Scotts Ridge Swim Area
- Conroe Boat Ramp 830
- 190 Boat Launch 898, Point Blank
- Piney Shores Boat Ramp
- Harbor Point Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Huntsville State Park
- Four Notch Hunter Camp
- Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area
- Stubblefield Lake Recreation Area: (936) 344-6205
- Stubblefield Lake
- Cagle Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Baldwin 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 Baldwin Dam
Where does the data for Baldwin 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 Baldwin Dam.