Ray Roberts Dam dam
Ray Roberts Dam
Ray Roberts Dam, located in Denton, Texas, along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, was completed in 1986 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, recreation, water supply, and fish and wildlife management. Standing at a height of 141 feet and a length of 14,980 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 1,931,900 acre-feet and a surface area of 29,350 acres. While it significantly reduces the risk of flooding to downstream communities, the dam does not eliminate the risk entirely. In rare, severe storm events, high surcharge releases could potentially impact areas such as Lewisville, Coppell, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, and Dallas.
A risk assessment conducted in 2019 classified the risk associated with Ray Roberts Dam as moderate, driven by the potential of an extremely unlikely flood event that could lead to a breach. In such a scenario, areas including Denton, Lewisville, and Dallas could face significant economic loss and damages. To mitigate risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers continuously works with local emergency managers to update evacuation plans, conduct emergency exercises, and implement risk reduction measures such as regular dam inspections, maintenance, and repairs. Despite the potential consequences of a breach, the dam's emergency action plan and collaboration with local authorities aim to minimize the impact on communities downstream.
Overall, Ray Roberts Dam plays a vital role in flood risk reduction and water resource management in the region. Through proactive risk management measures and ongoing assessments, the US Army Corps of Engineers ensures the dam's structural integrity and the safety of surrounding communities. While challenges exist, the dam's functionality and collaboration with local stakeholders demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding the environment and public safety in the face of potential natural disasters.
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 Ray Roberts Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elm Fk Trinity Rv At Greenbelt Nr Pilot Point | 34 cfs | → |
| Clear Ck Nr Sanger | 9 cfs | → |
| Little Elm Ck Nr Aubrey | 2 cfs | → |
| Doe Br At Us Hwy 380 Nr Prosper | 9 cfs | → |
| Hickory Ck At Denton | 1 cfs | → |
| Timber Ck Nr Collinsville | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ray Roberts Dam.
Boat launches
- Fairview Circle Denton County
- Fm 1190 Denton County
- Marina Circle Denton County
- Jones Road Denton County
- Denton County
- Lois Road East Denton County
Campgrounds
- Isle Du Bois - Roberts Lake State Park
- Johnson Branch - Roberts Lake State Park
- Little Elm Park
- Constellation Park Campsite #1
- Constellation Park Campsite #4
- Constellation Park Campsite #2
Fishing spots
Track Ray Roberts 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 Ray Roberts Dam
Where does the data for Ray Roberts 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 High 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 Ray Roberts Dam.