Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam dam
Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam
The Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam in Morris County, Texas, is a private dam on Barnes Creek constructed in 1944 with an earth core type and buttress foundations. The dam stands at a height of 41.1 feet and spans 1700 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 1910 acre-feet of water for various purposes. Although the dam has a normal storage capacity of 315 acre-feet, it has a surface area of 63 acres and a drainage area of 0.2 square miles, with a maximum discharge rate of 1 cubic foot per second.
Despite its historical significance and critical role in water resource management, the Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in April 2021. The dam's poor condition raises concerns about its structural integrity and safety, leading to a moderate risk rating of 3. With the last inspection conducted in August 2014 and an inspection frequency set at every 5 years, there is a need for immediate attention to address the dam's maintenance and repair needs to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities and the preservation of the water resource it provides. The dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) date, indicating a need for proactive risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
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 Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Cypress Ck Nr Pittsburg | 15 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck Nr Jefferson | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Cypress Ck At Us Hwy 271 Nr Pittsburg | 11 cfs | → |
| Little Cypress Ck Nr Ore City | 96 cfs | → |
| Black Cypress Bayou At Jefferson | 36 cfs | → |
| White Oak Ck At Ih 30 Nr Omaha | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lone Star City Park
- Fm 997 Morris County
- Lone Star Park Boat Ramp
- Park Road 17 Morris County
- Cedar Springs Boat Ramp
- Pine Hill Park
Campgrounds
- Cedar Ridge Camping Area
- Daingerfield State Park
- Lake Of The Pines
- Cedar Springs - Lake Of The Pines
- Alley Creek - Lake Of The Pines
- Johnson Creek - Lake Of The Pines
Fishing spots
Track Lower Barnes Reservoir 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 Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Lower Barnes Reservoir 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 Lower Barnes Reservoir Dam.