Park Bend Dam dam
Park Bend Dam
Park Bend Dam, located in Austin, Texas, serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along the TR-Walnut Creek. Built in 1983 by ESPEY HOUSTON AND ASSOCIATES INC, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 800 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.3 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in managing water flow and mitigating potential hazards in the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Park Bend Dam undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam features uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, highlighting its design for flood risk reduction purposes. Despite its moderate risk assessment level, the dam's hazard potential is not available, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and adherence to safety guidelines to protect both the dam and the local community it serves.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Park Bend Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of infrastructure, environmental management, and public safety. As a vital component of the local flood control system, this earth dam serves as a key player in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential water-related disasters. Its design, construction, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the complex world of water resource management and the critical role of dams in mitigating flood risks in dynamic and ever-changing environments.
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 Park Bend Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut Ck At Dessau Rd | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Walnut Ck At Georgian Dr | 1 cfs | → |
| Shoal Ck At Silverway Dr | · | → |
| Bull Ck At Loop 360 Nr Austin | 5 cfs | → |
| Waller Ck At Koenig Lane | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Ck At Lake Ck Pkwy Nr Austin | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Park Bend Dam.
Boat launches
- North Capital Of Texas Highway 5015, Austin
- Greenshores Drive 6921, Travis County
- Lake Pflugerville Park
- Redbud Trail, Austin
- Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail, Austin
- Bullick Hollow Road 13601, Austin
Campgrounds
- Camp Mabry Military
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
- Sandy Creek - Lake Travis
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Mckinney Falls State Park
Fishing spots
Track Park Bend 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 Park Bend Dam
Where does the data for Park Bend 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 Park Bend Dam.