Highway 71 Dam dam
Highway 71 Dam
The Highway 71 Dam, located in Austin, Texas, was completed in 1999 and serves as a crucial structure for flood risk reduction along the Williamson River. Designed by CAMP DRESSER AND MCKEE INC, this Roller-Compacted Concrete dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches 730 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 156 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite its importance, the Highway 71 Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, highlighting the need for maintenance and upgrades to ensure its continued effectiveness. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 739 feet, and two uncontrolled outlet gates. The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections to monitor its structural integrity and overall safety. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, it is crucial to implement proper risk management measures to maintain the dam's functionality and safeguard the community from potential hazards.
As a key component of the local flood risk reduction infrastructure, the Highway 71 Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the residents and environment of Travis County, Texas. With its strategic location and design, this dam serves as a bulwark against the forces of nature, ensuring the safety and well-being of those living in the area. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to advocate for the proper maintenance and upkeep of such critical infrastructure to mitigate risks and preserve the integrity of our water management systems.
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 Highway 71 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Williamson Ck At Oak Hill | · | → |
| Slaughter Ck At Fm 1826 Nr Austin | · | → |
| Barton Ck At Sh 71 Nr Oak Hill | 6 cfs | → |
| Barton Ck At Lost Ck Blvd Nr Austin | 28 cfs | → |
| Kincheon Br At William Cannon Blvd | · | → |
| Bear Ck At Spillar Ranch Rd Nr Manchaca | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Highway 71 Dam.
Boat launches
- South Quinlan Park Road 1501, Austin
- Redbud Trail, Austin
- Ann And Roy Butler Hike And Bike Trail, Austin
- Greenshores Drive 6921, Travis County
- North Capital Of Texas Highway 5015, Austin
- Low Water Crossing Road, Austin
Campgrounds
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Camp Mabry Military
- Arkansas Bend - Lake Travis
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Cypress Creek - Lake Travis
- Sandy Creek - Lake Travis
Track Highway 71 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 Highway 71 Dam
Where does the data for Highway 71 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 Highway 71 Dam.