Larsen Dam dam
Larsen Dam
Larsen Dam, located in Hays, Texas, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose classified as "Other." The dam, with a height of 20.5 feet and a length of 950 feet, has a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. It is situated on the UN TR-ELM Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the Galveston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being labeled as having a "High" risk potential, Larsen Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment and does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in 2009, and it is unclear if any modifications or updates have been made since then. The dam does not have a spillway, and its hazard potential is listed as "Not Available."
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Larsen Dam presents an interesting case study of a privately owned structure with potential risks and uncertainties regarding its condition and management. The lack of recent data and regulatory oversight raises questions about the dam's resilience and safety measures, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness for sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Larsen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Plum Ck At Lockhart | 13 cfs | → |
| Onion Ck At Twin Creeks Rd Nr Manchaca | 2 cfs | → |
| Onion Ck At Us Hwy 183 | 2 cfs | → |
| Slaughter Ck At Fm 2304 Nr Austin | · | → |
| Williamson Ck At Jimmy Clay Rd | 2 cfs | → |
| Blanco Rv Nr Kyle | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Larsen Dam.
Boat launches
- Interstate 35 Frontage Road 2396, San Marcos
- Farm To Market Road 973 2801-2899, Austin
- Texas 130 Toll, Austin
- Festival Beach Road, Austin
- Pecan Park Drive 442, San Marcos
- South Pleasant Valley Road 1-79, Austin
Campgrounds
- Mckinney Falls State Park
- Lockhart State Park
- Leisure Resort On The San Marco River
- Camp Mabry Military
- Emma Long Metropolitan Park
- Bastrop State Park
Fishing spots
Track Larsen 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 Larsen Dam
Where does the data for Larsen 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 Larsen Dam.