Emerald Lake Dam dam
Emerald Lake Dam
Emerald Lake Dam, located in Dallas, Texas, is a local government-owned structure with a height of 23.1 feet and a length of 500 feet. Completed in 1997, this buttress dam serves a variety of purposes including flood control and water storage, with a capacity of 160 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of Mountain Creek, this dam is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 106 feet and two uncontrolled outlet gates. While the hazard potential of Emerald Lake Dam is not available, its overall condition is assessed as not rated. The risk assessment categorizes the dam as having a moderate risk level, with a DSAC (Dam Safety Action Classification) of 3. Despite not being a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) structure, Emerald Lake Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating potential risks in the region.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate will find Emerald Lake Dam to be a fascinating example of dam infrastructure in Texas. With its unique design and purpose, this dam showcases the importance of effective water management and regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water resources. The data provided offers valuable insights into the specifications, history, and risk assessment of Emerald Lake Dam, making it a noteworthy site for further study and appreciation in the realm of water resource management.
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 Emerald Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Ck At Grand Prairie | 305 cfs | → |
| W Fk Trinity Rv At Grand Prairie | 664 cfs | → |
| Walnut Ck Nr Mansfield | 8 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv At Dallas | 2,510 cfs | → |
| W Fk Trinity Rv At Greenbelt Rd | 441 cfs | → |
| Trinity Rv Bl Dallas | 3,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Emerald Lake Dam.
Track Emerald Lake 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 Emerald Lake Dam
Where does the data for Emerald Lake 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 Emerald Lake Dam.