Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1 dam
Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1
Cow Bayou WS SCS Gss 1 is a crucial water resource infrastructure located in McLennan, Texas, designed by USDA NRCS to address flood risk reduction along the North Cow Bayou. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and a length of 880 feet, with a storage capacity of 97 acre-feet. Despite its essential role in managing floodwaters, the dam is currently not rated for condition assessment, posing potential risks due to lack of inspection and maintenance.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Cow Bayou WS SCS Gss 1 has not undergone recent inspections or risk assessments, leading to a high risk classification. With no spillway and limited emergency preparedness measures in place, there is a pressing need for updated evaluation and maintenance to ensure the dam's effectiveness in flood control. The presence of only one outlet gate further emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management strategies for this critical infrastructure.
As a significant flood risk reduction asset in the region, Cow Bayou WS SCS Gss 1's structural integrity and maintenance are key factors in safeguarding surrounding communities from potential inundation. With its strategic location to manage water flow along the North Cow Bayou, stakeholders must prioritize regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness measures to address the dam's current high-risk status and ensure long-term resilience against climate-related challenges.
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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brazos Rv At Waco | 167 cfs | → |
| Middle Bosque Rv Nr Mcgregor | 45 cfs | → |
| Hog Ck Nr Crawford | 14 cfs | → |
| N Elm Ck At Rosebud Rd Nr Meeks | 11 cfs | → |
| Leon Rv Nr Belton | 386 cfs | → |
| Little Pond Ck Nr Burlington | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1.
Boat launches
- Koehne Park Drive, Waco
- Classic Drive 489-495, Waco
- North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard 908-998, Waco
- Waco Lake Hike &Amp;Amp; Bike Trail Waco
- North Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard Waco
- Tennant Creek Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Falls On The Brazos Park
- Airport Park
- Owl Creek - Belton Lake
- Live Oak Ridge Park - Belton Lake
- Westcliff - Belton Lake
- Belton Lake Military - Fort Hood
Fishing spots
Track Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1
Where does the data for Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1 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 Cow Bayou Ws Scs Gss 1.